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Tips for overcoming barriers to medication

Medicine plays an important role in managing diabetes. However, to get the full benefits of medication you need to take it exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Often people find it hard to take their medications as prescribed. There are many reasons why this happens, and the specific reasons vary from person to person. If you can discover what makes it harder for you to take your medication as prescribed, 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 medication you take:

  • The name of the medication
  • The amount (dose) prescribed
  • When to take the medication
  • Whether it is taken before, with, or after eating
  • How to store the medication
  • What the medication does for you
  • How to tell if the medication 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 medication is poor communication. Your healthcare providers want to know if you are having problems taking your medication.

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 anything else! Some people’s views about insulin and other diabetes medications are based on information that is out of date or simply incorrect. Be sure to check out any information you hear from other sources with your diabetes care team.

Overcoming specific barriers

The chart that follows lists some of the barriers you might need to overcome to take your medication as prescribed. Also listed are some suggested tips to help you overcome these barriers.

Possible BarriersSuggested Solutions

Taking medicine is too inconvenient

I have to take diabetes medication on a rigid schedule that doesn’t fit with my lifestyle. Do you find that you are not taking your medications as prescribed because you feel that treatment is too big a burden? If so, talk with your diabetes care team about those aspects of treatment which are hardest for you.
 
It is possible that with some simple changes, your diabetes care plan can be revised to better fit your lifestyle. There are many treatment options available.

I have a hard time remembering when to take my diabetes medications

If you take medication 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 to your healthcare provider about the schedule of all of your medications. Maybe some simple changes can be made to make things easier for you.
  • Try associating taking your medications with something you do regularly, such as brushing your teeth.
  • Pill organizers can help. They are available at many pharmacies.
  • Use a watch or other device with an alarm to remind you to take your medications. Many cell phones also have an alarm function.

I don’t like taking medication

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 glucose as close to normal as possible is very important in reducing your risk for diabetes complications. When you understand the true benefits of a therapy, it is often easier to accept the need for it.

I’m afraid of the side effects of medication

Almost all medications have some side effects. It is always important to keep your healthcare provider informed about how you respond to your medications. Your healthcare provider will help you decide if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Medicine costs too much

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have difficulty affording your medications.

I am confused about how and when to take my medicine

A good way to ensure that you take your medicine correctly is to have written instructions on when, how much, and how to take it. Ask your healthcare provider or diabetes educator to write everything down for you. Then, keep these directions near your medications.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions until you understand what to do.

I don’t think my diabetes medicine is helping me

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are not reaching your target blood glucose goals. People with type 2 diabetes may be able to manage their diabetes with meal planning, exercise, and diabetes pills for a while. But because type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, at some point, most people with type 2 diabetes will need to take insulin to manage their blood glucose.
 
Needing insulin doesn’t mean you didn’t follow your diabetes-care plan. It just means that your body can no longer produce insulin or properly use the insulin you do produce to keep your blood glucose in the normal range.

For more information about insulin therapy:

Medication options for diabetes are constantly changing and expanding. Much research is being done and many new and effective therapies are becoming available.

The best medication choice for you will be one that manages your blood glucose, while also meeting your lifestyle needs. You and your healthcare provider will work together to choose a medication that will work for you.

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