Diabetes Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• For patients covered by insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs consist of a prescription drug copay ranging from $10 to $50, depending on the drug. If the patient takes multiple drugs, copays can total $200 a month or more.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, it costs $4-$100 per month for metformin^[1] , the most commonly prescribed first-line diabetes drug for Type 2 diabetics. Metformin decreases the amount of glucose absorbed from food and produced by the liver and heightens the body's response to insulin.
• For patients without health insurance, it costs $8-$200 per month or more for metformin taken along with another diabetes drug, such as one of a class of medications called sulfonylureas^[2] -- for example, brand name Glucotrol^[3] or Diabinese^[4] -- or one of a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors^[5] , such as brand names Precose^[6] and Glyset^[7] .
• For patients without health insurance, diabetes medication costs $200-$500 or more a month for a multi-drug regimen that could include other classes of oral medications.
• Insulin pumps cost between $4,500-$6,500 for individuals without insurance. The price varies depending upon the features, brand and size of the pump. For example, the Accu-Chek Spirit Insulin Pump^[8] costs about $4,600 when purchased without insurance coverage and includes only a few a features, such as software that allows readings to be downloaded to a personal digital assistant (PDA). The Minimed Paradigm Real Time Revel System^[9] is more expensive, retailing for about $7,000 when purchased without insurance, but includes more features, like continuous glucose monitoring. Some insurance plans will cover the cost of the pump. Patients with insurance can expect typical copay and coinsurance rates ranging from $5 to half of the total cost of the pump.
• Blood glucose meters can cost between $8.99-$1,150, but average $20 -$80. Individuals with insurance will pay typical copays and coinsurance rates, which can range from $5 to 50% of the cost for the device.

• A registered dietitian, or RD, can provide consultations to clients who wish to eat more healthfully and lose weight. For patients not covered by health insurance, a one-hour initial consultation with a registered dietitian typically costs about $100-$200. If follow up visits are required, they typically cost $50-$150 each, depending on length of consultation and whether the dietitian comes to your home. For patients covered by health insurance, typical out-of-pocket costs would be about $10-$40 -- usually a copay or 10%-20% percent of the total cost of the visit.
• Some Type 1 diabetics whose pancreas no longer functions normally, may qualify for a pancreas transplant. For those without insurance, the total cost of a pancreas transplant can range widely depending on the hospital, but typically falls between $125,000 and nearly $300,000 or more.
• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for a pancreas transplant typically consist of doctor visit, lab and prescription drug copays as well as coinsurance of 10%-50% for surgery and other procedures, which can easily reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.

• To save money, the American Diabetes Association recommends asking the doctor to prescribe a higher-dose pill -- for example, 500 mg instead of 250 mg -- and using a pill splitter to get the correct dose; consult a pharmacist, though, since some extended-release medications are not suitable for splitting.
• For patients without health insurance, many drug manufacturers provide free or discounted medications through patient assistance programs. Or, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance^[10] can offer help to patients who qualify.

• The American Academy of Family Physicians^[11] provides guidelines for choosing a family doctor. Or, a board-certified internal medicine doctor can serve as the patient's primary care provider; the American Board of Internal Medicine^[12] offers a doctor search feature.

1.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html
2.  www.drugs.com/drug-class/sulfonylureas.html
3.  www.drugs.com/glucotrol.html
4.  www.drugs.com/mtm/diabinese.html
5.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19826.htm
6.  www.drugs.com/pro/precose.html
7.  www.drugs.com/pro/glyset.html
8.  www.accu-chekinsulinpumps.com/ipus/products/insulinpumps/spirit.html
9.  www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/paradigmrevelsystem
10.  www.pparx.org
11.  familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/healthcare-management/working-with-your-doctor/ch...
12.  www.abim.org

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Do Botox Treatments Cost?		How Much Does a Flu Shot Cost?		How Much Does Teeth Cleaning Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

In case signing up was a resolution, we cover the cost of diet plans. Need help uncovering your driveway? You may need a snow removal service. The CDC recommends it is more important than ever to get a flu shot this year. Be ready if the worst weather hits -- a portable generator means fewer power outages. Garden all winter long with an indoor greenhouse.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Radiologist Fee Paid: 350.00 Any radiologist reading your mammogram will be at least $350. They have 11-13 years of training after high school before they begin work. If they are not board certified, watch out. Most are and it beats getting cancer... [more] -Lowes Fan Mammogram Cost DIY Ceiling Paid: 50.00 We bought a house with a cheap paint job. The ceilings were sprayed the same color as the walls. During COVID I painted the ceilings and a bathroom. A 120 square foot room took me about 4 hours (2 coats)... [more] -Lowes Fan Painting an Interior Cost DIY vs Installed Small Deck Paid: 3000.00 We paid $1300 for materials and $1700 for labor on a 100 square foot composite deck plus a redwood gate. It took 30 hours, done last year. My husband built a 100 sf heart redwood deck for about $1000 in materials in 2019... [more] -Lowe's Fan Redwood Deck Cost Colposcopy with biopsy Paid: 756.00 This service was wayy to expensive in my opinion. For a 20-25 minute total visit I had to pay out of pocked 756 - 187 to OBGYN, 229 to pathologist, then 340$ for facility fee or the hospital. I don't even know what that charge was for... [more] -D S Colposcopy Cost Bilateral Diagnostic Mammogram and Third Mammogram Paid: 1389.66 My 2021 bill, still in shock! Weill Cornell, in-network provider, billed my insurance $908 for a bilateral diagnostic mammogram, and $712 for a third mammogram one breast... [more] -GinaF Mammogram Cost shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more] -stevej45 MRI Cost