Overcoming barriers to taking your diabetes medicine
Medicine plays an important role in managing diabetes. But to get the full benefits of your diabetes medicine, you need to take it exactly as directed by your doctor.
Often people find it hard to take their medicine as directed. There are many reasons why this happens. The specific reasons vary from person to person. If you can find out what makes it hard for you to take your medicine as directed, you can find ways to overcome these barriers.
Some general tips
Know your medicines. Be sure you have all of the information you need to take your medicines properly. Here is a list of information to know about every medicine you take:
- The name of the medicine
- The amount (dose) prescribed
- When to take the medicine
- Whether the medicine is taken before, with, or after eating
- How to store the medicine
- What the medicine does for you
- How to tell if the medicine is working as expected
- What to do if you have a side effect
- What to do if you miss a dose
Solve problems together with your diabetes care team. Sometimes the biggest barrier to getting the full benefit of your medicine is poor communication. Your diabetes care team will want to know if you are having problems taking your medicine.
Separate fact from fiction. “Common knowledge” is often partly or totally incorrect. For some reason, there seems to be more “common knowledge” about health than almost any other subject! Some people’s views about insulin and other diabetes medicines are based on information that is out-of-date or simply wrong. Be sure to check with your diabetes care team any information you hear from other sources.
Overcoming specific barriers
The chart that follows lists some of the barriers you might need to overcome to take your medicine as directed. Also listed are some tips to help you overcome these barriers.
| Possible Barriers | Suggested Solutions |
|---|---|
Taking medicine is too inconvenient. I have to take diabetes medicine on a rigid schedule that doesn’t fit with my lifestyle. |
Do you find that you are not taking your medicine as directed because you feel that treatment is too big a burden? If so, talk with your diabetes care team about those aspects of treatment that are hard for you. It is possible that with some simple changes, your diabetes care plan can be made to better fit your lifestyle. There are many treatment options available. |
I have a hard time remembering when to take my diabetes medicine. |
If you take medicine more than once a day, it can be hard to remember to take all of your doses. If you take more than one medicine, that can make it even harder. Here are a few ideas that you may find helpful: Talk with your diabetes care team about the schedule of all of your medicines. Maybe some simple changes can make things easier for you. Try linking your medicine with something you do regularly, such as brushing your teeth. Pill organizers can help. They are available at many pharmacies. Use an alarm clock to remind you to take your medicine. Many cell phones have an alarm function. |
I don’t like taking medicine. |
Many people don’t like the idea of taking medicine. For some people, every pill is a reminder that they have diabetes. Remember, keeping your blood sugar as close to normal as possible is very important for reducing your risk of other health problems. When you understand the true benefits of a medicine, it is often easier to accept the need for it. |
I’m afraid of the side effects of medicine. |
Almost all medicine has some side effects. It is always important to keep your doctor informed about how you respond to your diabetes medicine. Your doctor will help you decide if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. |
Medicine costs too much. |
Talk with your doctor if you have trouble paying for your medicine. Novo Nordisk has a Patient Assistance program (PAP). The Diabetes PAP provides free medicine to those who qualify. If approved, a free 90-day supply of medicine will be sent to the doctor’s office for you to pick up. To see if you qualify, call 1-866-310-7549, or read the guidelines and print an application at NovoNordisk-us.com. |
I am confused about how and when to take my medicine. |
A good way to make sure that you take your medicine the right way is to have a written plan on when, how much, and how to take it. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator to write everything down for you. Keep these directions near your medicine. Ask your doctor or diabetes care team questions until you are sure you understand what it is you need to do and how to do it. Be sure to ask them for materials you can read at home. |
I don’t think my diabetes medicine is helping me. |
Talk with your doctor if you are not reaching your target blood sugar goals. People with type 2 diabetes may be able to manage their diabetes with meal planning, exercise, and diabetes pills for a while. It is important to realize that type 2 diabetes is a disease that changes over time, even when you do everything right. Most people with type 2 diabetes, even if they follow their diabetes care plans closely, will eventually need more medicine, such as an injectable medicine. When this happens, don’t think the change has occurred because you did something wrong. This is just the nature of type 2 diabetes. And the more medicine you take does not mean you are sicker. It just means you need something different to help keep you healthy. |
For more information about your diabetes medicine
Medicine options for diabetes are constantly changing and expanding. Much research is being done, and many new and effective therapies are becoming available.
The best medicine choice for you will be one that controls your blood sugar while also meeting your lifestyle needs. You and your diabetes care team will work together to choose a medicine that works for you.
