In 2007, it is estimated by the NIH (National Institute of Health) that 23.6 million people, or 7.8% of the population had diabetes! Roughly 25% of these people didn’t know they had it at the time, and the majority were Type-2 diabetics. In all, diabetes cost the nation as a whole a total of $174 billion in 2007. A portion of this cost comes from the diabetes medications many of us take every day. In a reaction this large market, pharmaceutical companies have new medication therapies hitting the market routinely, trying to get in on the action. But are the newer, more costly drugs any better than the old?
There are several factors involved in making a medication choice to treat type-2 diabetes. A discussion with your doctor is always best in deciding, but having done your research can aid in this process being less costly experience. It is important to consider the following factors (along with cost of course): safety, efficacy, and adverse reactions or side effects. Taking your medication each day is essential to it doing any good, so be sure to take the time and work with your doctor to choose the best therapy for you. You can find more pricing information for several of these common and cost effective generic options on the Rx Savings Solutions Medication List, or at Consumer Reports.
