Let me start by saying that if the practices I will describe offend for some reason please just move along. For most anyone with Type-1 diabetes COST and MONEY are factors involved in the treatment – and daily life – of those with the disease. The bottom line is those with Type-1 diabetes MUST have insulin in order to survive. Without it their glucose levels will skyrocket and they will die. My oldest son has Type-1 diabetes and I am very aware.
Here are a few ways to stock up on supplies:
Insulin:
Insulin is extremely expensive and can only be obtained with a prescription. I am not familiar with government provided insurance and prescription plans however getting the doctor to overwrite the prescription amount is key. If two vials of Novolog are required for a month convince the doctor that three or four are really required.
How to convince the doctor? One way is to tell the doctor a larger amount of insulin is administered per day than what really is. Yes – it is a lie. Unless you ask for A LOT more than needed he will likely write it for an extra bottle or two. This is also lifesaving required substance that if something were to happen the patient will die. Period. If the doctor writes the prescription for only the amount absolutely needed call the doctors office towards the end of the month and tell them you’ve run out and need more. They are NOT going to decline giving what is needed to sustain life.
Test Strips/Glucose Meters/Batteries:
The same system used with insulin can be used with test strips. If blood sugar is checked 5 times per day tell the doctor it is checked 10 times per day. Another method is to purchase what you can with insurance and then look to ebay for more. If no insurance is available ebay can be a huge help. Depending on brand a months worth of testing can be purchased for under $30. This is cheaper than many insurances.
Another option is to talk to the doctor or pharmacist. They often will have a discount card and/or samples. This is especially true of glucose meters. Search online by the brand meter used and contact the company. They will often send out free ones as they make their money on test strips.
Batteries:
Most glucose meters use CR2032 lithium-ion batteries. Buying these at the pharmacy is not cheap. I purchase mine at the Dollar Tree – you guessed it – for $1.00.
Cartridges:
Those with a pump require cartridges to dose insulin. Typically these cartridges are disposed of after one use. I use them up to three times with no issues. This allows a building of inventory as prescriptions and shipments are controlled fairly tight.
Syringes:
Those who take insulin via syringes know that they must use it only once – and throw away. Well – maybe not. Looking at the tip of a syringe it dulls with each use thus severe bruising and scarring can occur. In the past, I have used syringes up to twice – and no more. These shots were done fairly close to each other time-wise and of course were sterilized.
Insulin Delivery Sites:
Pump users require “sites” to deliver insulin just under the skin. These are supposed to be changed every few days. I typically get a week out of one. Thus rather than a box of 10 lasting 30 days, it lasts 60-70 days. Being these cannot be bought over the counter stocking up is not easy unless extending its usage time. The backup plan for a running out of these is syringes.
Diabetes is one of those diseases that the reality of any long-term SHTF situation is grave. Believe me, it is not something I enjoy thinking about. The first step is to stock up on needed supplies to prevent any short-term supply interruption from turning into a long-term disaster.
Rourke
Wow. Great advice. I have thought about this often without a solution for folks in our area that want to prepare.
I’ve read this stuff has a limited shelf life. Anyway to preserve it like freezing?
Thanks PB. Freezing will not work and will destroy the insulin. Insulin must be kept cold. A couple years ago there was talk of a new insulin that did not require refrigeration however I have not seen it yet.
Dambit. So, this one still worries and burdens us all.
Anyone found a way?
I suggest that you research the early days of insulin production, before $100k mass production computer controlled lab machinery. Considering how long insulin has been produced simpler days surely used simpler methods that one may be able to buy the cheaper lab equipment to duplicate. Anyone investing in this and learning the processes required, would surely have a goldmine during prolonged grid-down.
My son has had a chronic illness at same level of seriousness as type 1diabetes for 20 years. An adult now, he uses somewhat similar methods but his med is over the top expensive and high tech and not really amenable to either acquisition or storage quite they way. The ability to use this type of technology required to produce his proprietary meds would probably be lost if TSHTF and I am greatly concerned about his future. He is not a doomer and we have not brainstormed possible strategies.
My wife had to have her thyroid removed years ago and must have thyroxin to live. We have not only used this method to get extra, but also get extra prescriptions from other doctors and pay cash for the drugs. It’s expensive, but what is it worth? Just make sure to set up a good rotation schedule and always keep them rotating.
Good post Rourke- my husband is diabetic . He now uses an insulin pen and also insulin in a bottle. We were told that it can be kept for up to one month w/o being refrigerated. We havent had to test it out though. Lightning
PS I take a few prescriptions and what I do is take them every other day in order to
save some up. Of course this depends upon each persons medical needs.
Thanks Lightning.
As a diabetic myself I can tell you that the pens at least will last up to a month out of the fridge. if you read the instructions on the package it tells you not to refrigerate after opening. In a grid down situation I have a small 12 volt cooler that can be run off a car battery and a small solar charger to keep the battery charged. There are other methods of keeping things cool like double walled clay pots for evaporation ect. You should research these.
poorman – thanks for the comment. Yes, insulin will last some time without refrigeration and reportedly a month is about it before it seriously begins to degrade. I have all the components for a solar powered fridge and need to get a move on for testing. Many of those 12v coolers will be better than nothing but will not get down to low enough temperatures depending on the climate. They certainly will extend the life of insulin – no doubt about that.
Insulin can be purchased w/o a prescription in some states but one needs a prescription for the syringes. One can order syringes from a farm catalog but again
sometimes one needs sizes that are not available. Lightning
I’m an Australian Type 1 and have a T1 daughter too – she’s on pump, I’m on injections….in Aus we’re very lucky, our government subsidies all requirements. We keep 6 mths supply of novorapid and Lantus.
I regularly go to the needle exchange centres and stock up on 1ml syringes- yes, it means putting yourself out there as a ” junkie scum” but who cares? I’ll take clean needles for my kid and I any day and let’s face it….who are the junkies going to tell??
I’m investigating a good 12v fridge for power outages, I also figure that if no refrigeration is available I’ll sink caches in the local river to keep cool – hopefully the crocodiles and jellyfish will deter looters!
In a post SHTF world we’ll all be tested, diabetics will be tested that little harder!
Good article- best of luck to my fellow T1D’s!!
Appreciate the information, Josh. I would like to get a 12V fridge. They are expensive but extremely useful.
http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/state-law/state-prescription-laws.html
Most states do not require a prescription for regular insulin or syringes.
Not to over post myself but I will mention that I’m on some chronic meds that would be very difficult to do without. Like many of our meds, they are actually controlled by insurers, who count the days and tablets until I can renew a scrip. Our docs lost control of medicine when it became healthcare. I have taken to try to skip a dose occasionally to build up a stock for TSHTF times. Not fun but we all do what we have to do. I’m also keeping up my vision exams and extra glasses and dental work, awful for a Boomer who grew up on Jets and Captain Crunch. GLTA
First – I have a friend with a diabetic dog and she buys insulin at Walmart without a prescription for her dog. Sometimes she has to argue with them, but being a nurse – she wins. Also, my husband is diabetic, our back-up plan for refrigeration is our camping trailer refrigerator, which will run on propane. It uses very little along as you’re not opening the door. Since we have a large tank for the house, we also have a long propane hose that we can run to the 250 gallon tank, if we run out of the smaller tanks. We also have bought syringes and needles from medical supply company online for very little , much cheaper then pharmacy. (no prescription needed)
This is something constantly on my mind because not providing for it is a death sentence. One addition to our BOB supplies is a “Frio Bag” bought at China Mart. This bag keeps insulin cool through an evaporation process. Haven’t had the need to use it yet but mfr assures it will keep insulin cool for 24+ hours. Soak it with water. Diabetic protection is one of our research projects at Conspiracy Preppers.