Forty Days of Diabetes - Day 14

Day 14 - What's in your bag?

At any given time our T1D kids are responsible for thousands of dollars worth of products. They're saddled down with what equates to month's worth of income for some families. In their little bag of tricks they're likely carrying:

$80      glucometer and test strips

$240    Glucagon

$6000  insulin pump

$30      pump sites

$210    insulin vial

$1200  continuous glucose monitor 

$150    continuous glucose monitor sensor

These are things they're carrying every single day. To school, on vacations, to the mall, and to the beach. And sometimes those things don't come home with them. And insurance companies aren't going to say, "gee, I'm sorry that happened to you, let me cover another". It doesn't happen. The small stuff, meter & test strips, insulin, etc.., is easy enough to replace. Most families stock at least 3 months of supplies on hand. Families who have decent coverage and the means to manage the co-pays. Other families must choose at times between diabetes supplies and buying groceries or paying the bills. 

Durable medical equipment, like an insulin pump, is covered just once every four years. Less often than some people replace their cars. Caitlin took a little trip to the beach on Saturday with friends. That little trip will cost us $650 for a new CGM receiver should we choose to replace it. It's not a critical item but it sure helps a lot. She looked horrified while telling us she couldn't find it. But how could we be mad? She's a child who is burdened with a massive amount of responsibility every single day. I'm impressed that in three years it's the first thing she lost.