insulin

By Blue­butt­erfl­y Added at October 26, 2008 Views 2,494 Reviews 29 4.4092 stars

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.

  • Report Report as inappropriate
  • Rate 4.4092 stars
  • Share
    Email Email
    Print Print Twitter Twitter
    Facebook Facebook

Reviews (29 reviews)

Add your review Reply Down
edvel54
edvel54 April 22 at 6:36 pm   

depending 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

pablito805
pabl­ito8­05 March 8, 2010 at 12:45 pm   

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.

Pros

Insulin is easier to manage. Pills you have to take a lot more and harder to manage. cost might be the same. Having insurance helps

Cons

Insulin 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.

Harlen
Harlen January 3, 2010 at 8:29 pm   

for me insulin is a lot cheaper the pills where

Pros

it works

Cons

stings

Mike1220
Mike1220 November 29, 2009 at 9:01 pm   

I have been using lantus for a couple of years.seems to work ok for me.

Pros

just one short per day is great.

Cons

I am having to increase my dose up a few units,every 2/3 months

jayabee52
jayabee52 November 6, 2009 at 1:23 pm   

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.

Pros

better control of BGs

Cons

not convenient - needing to keep it cold when travelling, having to inject it

zoolougirl88
zool­ougi­rl88 November 6, 2009 at 10:37 am   

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

Pros

Lowers blood glucose, many different kinds available

Cons

taking several shots a day, expensive

Hinboyz3
Hinboyz3 November 1, 2009 at 6:04 pm   

I feel the pills are cheaper than the actual insulin.

Pros

when you need it you have to have it to feel yourself no matter what.

Cons

It gets to be very costly if you don't have insurance like lots of people.

Harlen
Harlen November 1, 2009 at 5:49 pm   

It works for me very well

Pros

the ins pays for it only coast 3.00 a month
I use 300 ut every 2 days

Cons

U100 it takes a lot to get the job done

cussinwolf
cuss­inwo­lf October 28, 2009 at 6:52 pm   

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

Pros

My 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.

Cons

Wish 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.

ONeil
ONeil October 16, 2009 at 12:01 am   

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.

Pros

their 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.

Cons

the only thing I don't like is that I have gain the weight, over 20lbs and I don't need .

US331242
US331242 October 8, 2009 at 11:23 am   

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).

Ronda Cameron
Ronda Cameron September 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm   

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.

Pros

Better control

Cons

None

Harlen
Harlen August 2, 2009 at 1:37 pm   

I was using 200 to 300 ut a day now on the pump down to 105 to 150 a day
Without ins 900.00 to 1200.00 a month
noe 1200.00 evry 3 months

Pros

keekps Bs down
and with ins 9.00 every 3 months

Cons

still on it

Jipwhip
Jipwhip July 25, 2009 at 3:53 pm   

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.

Pros

Your 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.

Cons

weight gain

eluna
eluna July 14, 2009 at 5:59 pm   

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)

Pros

works better than pills

Cons

Both 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

colt_fan
colt_fan June 3, 2009 at 9:18 am   

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.

Pros

Controls glucose levels, and A1C is in normal ranges.

Cons

None

RaleTrail
RaleTrail May 31, 2009 at 2:36 pm   

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.

squirt62681
squi­rt62­681 May 27, 2009 at 10:30 am   

I still take both pills and two types of insulin and I am working towards better goals

Pros

It has helped lower my blood sugars

Cons

Hard to travel with when you are on the go

roger
roger January 28, 2009 at 6:40 pm   

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

Pros

A!C on pills 14.9 A!C on insulin 7.9 in less than 6 mon

Cons

I got fat put on 50 lbs in one year

mary52
mary52 January 28, 2009 at 12:23 am   

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.