The True Cost of Diabetes

How Costly is Diabetes and How to Financially Prepare for It

Diabetes cases are increasing worldwide and is one of the top 10 causes of deaths. This is true even for Filipinos. It is estimated that around one in every five Filipinos have or will have diabetes. This means 20% of the population is suffering with the disease, which is a huge jump from only 4% in 1998! What’s more alarming is that by 2030, it is predicted that over 7 million Filipinos will have diabetes.

Sadly, the thing about diabetes is that once you have it, it’s there for life. There’s no way to cure it 100% but there is a way for you to be able to live with it and control its symptoms. Doing so won’t come cheap, however.

What is the definition of diabetes?

A person suffering from diabetes has too much glucose (or sugar) in their body. This is because their body does not produce enough insulin (or does not produce any) or has cells that do not respond correctly to insulin.

There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin dependent diabetes, refers to people whose bodies do not produce insulin on its own and is diagnosed in childhood. Type 2 diabetes also known as non-insulin diabetes or adult diabetes are caused by a number of factors such as lifestyle choices or genetics. Finally, there is gestational diabetes which is a form of non-insulin dependent diabetes. These are diabetes cases which occur during pregnancy.

How much does it cost to treat diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifelong disease, meaning it cannot be cured but its symptoms can be controlled. To do so, a patient needs to go through a lifetime of check-up, testing, and medication, which can cost an arm and a leg if they are paying for it out-of-pocket.

Here are some of the average costs for diabetes medication and treatments:

• PHP 1,000 monthly for doctor appointments

• PHP 1,600 monthly for laboratory fees (for Fasting Blood Sugar tests, Oral Glucose Tolerant Test, Hemoglobin A1c test, among others)

• PHP 2,500 per night for hospital stays

• PHP 4,200 monthly for diabetic testing supplies (Blood Sugar Monitor or Diabetic Glucometer plus Glucometer stripes, insulin injections)

• PHP 30,000 for prescription medication monthly (insulin medication, Metformin, sitagliptin phosphate)

• PHP 2,000 per dialysis treatment (for extreme diabetes cases)

That’s over PHP 40,000 spent for diabetes treatment each month. Keep in mind that the treatments and medications indicated are those that keep diabetes at bay. These do not even include treatment for complications that can stem from diabetes, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, blindness, and more.

Financially protecting yourself from diabetes

Battling diabetes can drain you, both physically and financially. Make sure you’re financially protected from the blows it can bring by investing in a health insurance plan that allows you to get the best treatment possible without draining your bank account.

With She Cares by Sheroes, you can be greater than diabetes. She Cares by Sheroes provides you with a flexible 3-in-1 solution that addresses your health, protection, and investment needs as a modern Filipina.

Talk to one of our Financial Advisor about She Cares today.