Uninsured and under-insured diabetics often are not able to pay for their diabetic supplies. Carolyn Robertson from the Gonda Diabetes Center at UCLA expresses her concern that diabetics will "skip a test in order to cut down the costs of strips," according to an October 2009 interview in the "Los Angeles Times." Donations of diabetic supplies are greatly needed for low income and uninsured diabetics. Charity organizations look for donations of test strips, glucose meters, syringes, sharps containers, insulin pumps and alcohol pads.
Step 1
Check the Islets of Hope website (See Resource) for a list of charitable organizations that accept donations of diabetes supplies and redistribute them to low-income or uninsured diabetics and health care clinics.
Step 2
Contact hospitals, low income and free health care clinics and ask if they accept donations of diabetes supplies.
Step 3
Call social services and ask if they know of organizations accepting donations or of a specific individual in need of free diabetes supplies.
Step 4
Ask your doctor if he is interested in accepting your diabetic supplies. Your doctor will most likely encounter an uninsured diabetic patient who could benefit from free supplies.
Step 5
Place an advertisement in your local newspaper listing your diabetes supplies "for free." Talk to the newspaper about placing your advertisement at no charge to you, since it is a free listing for charity purposes.
Step 6
Post fliers advertising "free diabetic supplies" at a senior citizen center, community center and at the pharmacy. Ask permission before hanging fliers at any business.
Step 7
Ask organizations, hospitals and clinics which types of diabetes supplies they accept before sending the supplies. Most places do not accept expired supplies and many will not accept used supplies.
Tips and Warnings
- You may be able to take a tax deduction for your diabetic supplies donations made to a charitable organization---check with your tax accountant.
- It is illegal to give insulin pumps and prescription products directly to individuals, according to iPump, a charity which accepts and redistributes diabetic supplies, including insulin pumps. Only give these types of items to doctors, hospitals and charities licensed to accept them.
