A typical dog, yesterday
This dog thought vets fees were expensive, but apparently diabetics cost even more to keep than dogs. The latest figures show that the 40 million prescriptions for diabetes drugs issued by the NHS each year cost over £760m.
Type 1s smugly point out that there are more Type 2s so they’re obviously the ones taking most of the budget. But JDRF point out that insulin costs make up over half of the bill, and that’s mostly used by Type 1s. Diabetes UK also have quite an interesting overview of the numbers.
From this I conclude: don’t get a diabetic, they’re expensive, it’s much more economical to get a dog.
By the way, I was planning to spend today relaxing in my basket with a juicy bone, but @Marianne’s comments on my previous efforts encouraged me to do a bit more reading. This dog is easily motivated by compliments.
As I dimly recall from my pharmacist chum, Humalog is as cheap as chips and Lantus / Levimir is the expensive stuff. As pumps just use the quick acting, cheap insulin then pumps actually save money in terms of cost of ownership. Or something.
I dimly recall it being something like £15 for a bottle of Humalog and £25 for Lantus.
I very dimly recalled Lantus being more than that; but I can check and report back.
Simon has replied and says:
1 x 5 lantus 3ml cartridge = £41.50
1 x 5 Humalog 3ml Cartridge = £28.31
Ooo, so the cost conscious diabetic on MDI should really commit to getting up every 2 hours during the night to inject Humalog, thereby saving having to waste money on more expensive long acting insulin.
Every 2 hours? Small doses every ten minutes surely? Any MDI’er who doesn’t do this is an enemy to the state. And probably a Communist.
Go, Neville, go!
Pound for pound you punch way above your grade. And I find that impressive. In fact, so impressive that I’d love to introduce Kobi and Tashi (the pooches who own me) to you. What a pack you’d all make …
Good old Neville! I know I’m risking turning Shoot Up into Kritter’s Korner, but here’s a picture of our doggy Skye:
Very cute, but surely you’re taking blatant advertising to the extreme by attaching a stripykat Kindle case to the poor creature’s tail?
She’s not actually real, she has a zip down her back. Part of stripykat’s ultra-realistic new range of handbags.
Kritter Korner? Never!!! I’m 100% sure that Skye is your resident “BSL low” sniffing companion who has been well trained to save your life …
Kobi and Tashi are suitably impressed and have registered on a training program so that they can ‘sniff’ my lows and can, consequently, ensure the supply chain.