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Managing diabetes can feel like you’re juggling a dozen moving parts, and the costs add up fast. From medications and test strips to provider visits and the daily tools you need just to take care of yourself, it’s no surprise that people with diabetes often face 2.5 times higher medical bills than those without the condition. And beyond the direct costs, there are the hidden ones like missed workdays, time spent at appointments, and the ongoing expenses that come with preventing or treating complications like kidney or heart disease.
We are here to share practical ways to lighten the load. With the right strategies, a little planning, and a few smart shortcuts, you can manage your blood sugar without feeling like every step is draining your wallet. Let’s walk through why diabetes can be so costly, and more importantly, share budget-friendly tips to make diabetes care feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
Why Is Diabetes So Expensive?
On average people with diabetes incur annual medical expenditures of upwards of $12,000 just from diabetes alone. Diabetes can be costly for a few key reasons. Here’s the simplest way to understand where those expenses come from:
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Direct medical costs:These are the day-to-day things you need to manage your diabetes safely: medications, test strips, CGM or pump supplies, and regular visits with your healthcare team. They’re all essential, but they add up quickly.
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Indirect costs: Managing diabetes often requires time, flexibility, and energy. Missed work, reduced productivity, or needing more time for medical appointments all fall into this category. These indirect costs are not always visible, but they absolutely impact your budget.
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Costs from complications: Over time, diabetes can affect the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, and more. Treating these complications, whether through medications, procedures, or emergency care is one of the biggest contributors to long-term healthcare expenses.
7 Budget-Friendly Tips for Saving with Diabetes
Managing diabetes can feel expensive and overwhelming, but the good news is that there are real, practical steps you can take to lower your costs without sacrificing good care. Below are some simple, budget-friendly ideas I often share with clients who want to stay healthy without feeling like diabetes is draining their wallet.
1. Build a Diabetes-Friendly Pantry With Affordable Staples
Diabetes-friendly eating doesn’t require expensive specialty items. Stocking a pantry with budget basics, like beans, frozen veggies, brown rice, eggs, and canned tuna, can help you build balanced, blood-sugar-friendly meals without relying on pricey “diabetes” products.
2. Compare Pharmacies
Most people don’t realize insulin and diabetes medications vary dramatically across pharmacies even with the same insurance. Tools like GoodRx, SingleCare, or even warehouse pharmacies like Costco and Sam’s Club can reduce out-of-pocket costs by 50% or more.
3. Ask Your Provider About Biosimilars + Lower-Cost Medication Alternatives
If insurance coverage is a concern for your medication costs, biosimilar insulin can save hundreds per month with nearly the same clinical effectiveness. If you’re on brand-name insulin or a newer GLP-1, ask whether a biosimilar, older medication, or combination therapy could safely reduce costs.
4. Switch to a Subscription Model
Subscription-based programs can make diabetes supplies much more affordable and prevent lapses in your supplies at home. Instead of paying retail prices every time you run out of strips, a subscription through Gluco+ gives you a steady monthly cost that’s easier to plan for. This helps eliminate surprise expenses and keeps your testing routine consistent. Gluco’s subscription model is especially helpful because it offers predictable, budget-friendly pricing for test strips, so you always know what your supplies will cost each month.
5. Consider Buying Testing Supplies in Bulk
Testing supplies are one of the biggest recurring expenses for people with diabetes, especially if you check your blood sugar several times a day. Buying them in bulk, whether online, through your pharmacy, or via a warehouse retailer, can significantly lower the cost per strip.
6. Leverage Your Care Team’s Free Expertise
Many diabetes services are already covered by insurance, and taking advantage of your care team can save you real money over time. Dietitians, diabetes educators, and pharmacists can help adjust medication timing, reduce unnecessary doses, streamline your supplies, and catch duplicate prescriptions. Using the expertise you already have access to can make your treatment plan more effective and more affordable.
7. Prevent Complications: It’s the Most Cost-Efficient Strategy You Have
The highest costs in diabetes care don’t come from medications; they come from long-term complications. Staying consistent with your annual screenings, foot care, blood pressure checks, and glucose monitoring can help you catch issues early and avoid expensive hospital visits or emergency care. Preventing problems before they start is one of the most powerful money-saving strategies you have.
How iHealth Can Help
If you’re ready to simplify your diabetes routine and cut down on surprise expenses, Gluco+ makes it easy. A steady monthly subscription takes the guesswork out of testing supplies so you’re never scrambling or overpaying at the pharmacy. With predictable pricing, consistent deliveries, and no retail markups, Gluco+ helps you stay on track without stretching your budget.
Additional References
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Parker ED, Lin J, Mahoney T, Ume N, Yang G, Gabbay RA, ElSayed NA, Bannuru RR. Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022. Diabetes Care. 2024 Jan 1;47(1):26-43.
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New American Diabetes Association Report Finds Annual Costs of Diabetes to be $412.9 Billion. American Diabetes Association. Accessed November 25, 2025.
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Gao CC, Espinoza Suarez NR, Toloza FJK, et al. Patients' Perspective About the Cost of Diabetes Management: An Analysis of Online Health Communities. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2021;5(5):898-906. Published 2021 Sep 17.
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