insulin
By Bluebutterfly
October 26, 2008
2,494
29
How expensive is insulin compared to diabetic drugs? If what I am on now doesen't lower my sugar, I will have to go on insulin. I was just wondering which one is cheaper insulin or pills.
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Reviews (29 reviews)
Add your reviewdepending on whether you have insurance or not.
I can get 3 months of insulin for $15, where as the pills I take are $80 for 3 months
I don't know if it is cheaper but i know insulin is a lot easier to manage than pills. I was taking more pills to make up for the what i take in one shot of insulin.
ProsInsulin is easier to manage. Pills you have to take a lot more and harder to manage. cost might be the same. Having insurance helps
ConsInsulin you have to refrigerate and pills you don't. if you need to take insulin with you you have to have something to keep it cool.
for me insulin is a lot cheaper the pills where
Prosit works
Consstings
I have been using lantus for a couple of years.seems to work ok for me.
Prosjust one short per day is great.
ConsI am having to increase my dose up a few units,every 2/3 months
Insulin has worked well for me. I resisted going on it for quite a while, it took a trip to the hospital and being sent to the ICU with kidney failure to get me on insulin. Has kept my BGs relatively stable for these past 3 years. As far as expense, the diabetic drugs [especially the newer ones] were nearly as expensive as the insulin.
Prosbetter control of BGs
Consnot convenient - needing to keep it cold when travelling, having to inject it
Insulin is very expensive. Pills are definitely cheaper but depending on your Diabetic situation pills may or may not work for you and Insulin will be your only option. If you need to go on insulin consult the doctor as to which kind seems to be the best and work with them until you find the right combination of drugs for best control
ProsLowers blood glucose, many different kinds available
Constaking several shots a day, expensive
I feel the pills are cheaper than the actual insulin.
Proswhen you need it you have to have it to feel yourself no matter what.
ConsIt gets to be very costly if you don't have insurance like lots of people.
It works for me very well
Prosthe ins pays for it only coast 3.00 a month
ConsI use 300 ut every 2 days
U100 it takes a lot to get the job done
I fought insulin tooth and nail until my bg went to 400 when I had a recent bout of pneumonia. I have not had control of my bg in awhile. 16-20 units of Relion Novolin N at bedtime and 1000 mg metformin 2xday. I was afraid I would gain more weight. . I
ProsMy bg's are below 150 for the first time in a year. I can sleep through the night without bathroom trips. My eye pressures have become stable. I do not feel like I am half starved all the time.
ConsWish I had done it sooner and not worried about weight gain. My high bg's have caused me some eye problems but thankfully not the diabetic retinopathy. Did you know that uncontrolled bg can cause cataracts? Me neither. Oh so far…no weight gain.
I feel that the pill are cheaper then the insulin . the cost is $200.00 for the insulin compare to the pills it cost . for me I am still wating for my suger to become stable. I hope with both of them it help out on my A1c . do to I just started the Insulin, and been about a month.
Prostheir have been days where I do feel realy good because it is working good, then there is days were I can not get it out of the 200 or 300 range.
Consthe only thing I don't like is that I have gain the weight, over 20lbs and I don't need .
pills were expense for me and they were not effective. The price depends on how much you take and which insulin you are put on.
If you are in the US, and need to keep your expenses down, go to WalMart or Sam's club. They have a product called ReliOn which is a generic that will run you less than $25 per vial (vial has 1000 cc) and a box of 100 syringes will cost $10 (no Rx needed).
I have been on insulin for 47 years. I have used Humalin, NPH & Regular which was cheaper than the Humalog that I now use for my insulin pump. Humalog is still cheaper than the pills. It cost without insurance approx.$125 a vial.
ProsBetter control
ConsNone
I was using 200 to 300 ut a day now on the pump down to 105 to 150 a day
ProsWithout ins 900.00 to 1200.00 a month
noe 1200.00 evry 3 months
keekps Bs down
Consand with ins 9.00 every 3 months
still on it
I take two insulins Novolog and Lantus. They have both worked to bring my numbers down. My A1c went from 15.2 to 9.2 with -in the first three months of use. Now my A1c is under 7 all the time.
ProsYour insulin only needs to be refrigerated until you open the vial or pen, then it can be used for 28 days not refrigerated after opening. Not a good idea to inject cold insulin.
Consweight gain
My mom takes two different insulins (Novolog & Lantus). Novolog three times a day before meals based on her blood sugar readings accordingto sliding scale from the doctor and Lantus at night ( 50 mls)
Prosworks better than pills
ConsBoth of these insulins are too expensive ( $ 28. 00 per bottle ) ans a hassle to carry around becaues they need to be refrigated or put in a cool place
I take Humilin R and Lantus and they work great for me. I was on pills for many years, and they did very little for me, and cost alot of money. My insulins are cheaper than my pills were, however, without insurance, it is very expensive.
ProsControls glucose levels, and A1C is in normal ranges.
ConsNone
I have been on insulin for 55 years. Humulin (long acting) is $37 a vial and Humalog is $41 if you order from Canada. I feel insulin gives you more control, makes it easier to work with a diet. Humalog and Regular are quick acting insulins. Regular is cheaper.
I still take both pills and two types of insulin and I am working towards better goals
ProsIt has helped lower my blood sugars
ConsHard to travel with when you are on the go
I use both i have a large de dut for my ins so i pay full price for my insulin 3 bottels for every 30 days 273.92 but if i get 90 day sup 731.43
ProsA!C on pills 14.9 A!C on insulin 7.9 in less than 6 mon
ConsI got fat put on 50 lbs in one year
It is more expensive than the tablets I was taking. But it has gotten my diabetes under control.If you have insurance it should help.