Feeling Stressed During The Holidays? You Are Not Alone!

YAAASSS
Also: Pic via the interwebz

It’s the holidays - lots of running around, trying to finish up end of year work projects (speaking of - please check out my 3 part series covering the Diabetes Tech Meetings over at Ascensia,) getting our ducks in a row for the new year, while shopping, cooking, and figuring out all the holiday logistics. 

Diabetes - factors into our end of year craziness too. 

Cramming in last-minute doctors appointments, getting our end-of-year Rx’s filled - or at least trying too - many running into roadblocks when it comes to end of year durable medical equipment Rx approval and delivery - before January 1 and a new deductible rolls around - and trying not to lose our shit in the process.

Navigating the holiday carb party extravaganza, including explaining that “yes we can eat that,” because we have done a lot of work, including all the diabetes math, in order to have those Christmas Cookies/wine/and or whatever else is on our plate. 

Not to mention dealing with blood sugars in all dimensions because there are at least 42 different factors that impact our blood sugars. 

For some, the holidays bring up family dynamics that are complicated and anything but happy. 

Many others are feeling the tremendous loss of loved ones that only the holiday season can bring. 

For some this holiday season is the toughest part in the year of firsts without the person they love. For others, the loss and sadness pops up again … and just when they thought they were OK. 

If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or sad re: all of the above and or things not mentioned above - that’s OK. 

You are allowed to. 

You are doing your best. 

You are not alone. 

You are human. 

You are magnificent. 

My Hopes For Us In 2019

Free 2019 image via VectorStock

My Hopes For Us In 2019 

Lots of happiness and health - which of course is a given - and boatloads of tenacity to boot!

The ability and strength to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get back up whenever we fall - and the doggedness to try again until we succeed. 

Having more things to laugh out loud about and less things to cry about when it comes to our lives and our lives with diabetes. 

To continue becoming the person we truly are and were always meant to be - before self doubt crept in and veered us off path - and super power navigation skills accompanied by strong winds for our sails, to get us back on course. 

Strong inner strength to plow through all the crap that gets in our way on our path to becoming that person.

Being more successful than we were the previous year - and in all dimensions, while helping others to do the same. 

Having the strength to continue advocating for diabetes (and anything and everything else we are passionate about,) and to be the change that we wish to see. 

The ability to turn our self doubts into tools of self empowerment. 

Taking the lead with our diabetes more often than our diabetes takes the lead with us. 

To say yes to the things we fear and wish for!

For each of us to continue to grow and learn from our mistakes, while being grateful for the lessons learned. 

Politicians who grow spines and stop acting like spoiled brats - enough is enough and we deserve better! 

No pre-existing conditions clauses and health care insurance caps - EVER.

An end to sky rocketing health insurance costs including medications!

Speaking of life saving medications, lower insulin prices and #insullin4all become the reality and the norm in 2019, because people in the United States and around the globe shouldn’t have to die because they can’t afford insulin. 

Diabetes Makes Me Do That Thing Where I'm Always Checking

So..... checking as it relates to diabetes - does it drive you batty and please tell me I'm not the only one!

Do you have any tips? 

If so, please feel free to share - diabetesalicious minds want know!

Also, I apologize in advance for the ridiculous amount of times I use the words "checking," and "check." 

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Diabetes makes me do that thing where I’m always checking. 

Checking to see if I have enough insulin and other meds; checking to see if I have my pump attached to my person before I walk out the door, and now checking to see if I have my PDM because I’m currently podding. 

Checking to see if I have enough test strips on my person and in my stash. 

Checking to see if I have enough pump supplies. 

Checking to see if I have enough juice; juice boxes, glucose tabs, and regular food in my house. 

Checking to make sure I have glucose tabs, or other low treats in my car.

Checking out the latest diabetes related studies, news, and the likes there of. 

Checking for little signs of diabetes burnout before they become big signs.

Then there’s the paper work required for all of the above, checking to see if my insurance not only covers certain med/supply, etc.,making sure RXs are up to date, doctors appointments are scheduled. 

Then there are things I shouldn't even have to check for, but must -  because someone else didn't do their job. Case in point - making sure my insurance company covers the right copay. 

Since I switched up my plan on March 1, my insurance company has charged me my old 60/40 co-pay for two different prescriptions instead of my current 80/20 co-pay. 

That's a big damn difference.

Guess who was the one to figure it out? 

Guess who was the one who spent two hours on the phone trying to fix it the first time and hour on the phone the second time making sure it was fixed? 

But back to checking. 

Checking blood sugars, checking for ketones, checking to make sure I have extra everything before I go out the door and start my day. 

.

Most days it doesn’t bother me because the checking has become second nature and I've figured a way to streamline my prep check. 

I have a cool looking (and slightly bigger than my 6+ iPhone when in it’s otterbox,)size brightly colored/insulated bag I use for my diabetes.

I keep my PDM; meter (which I don’t bring now, because I can check my blood sugar via the PDM,) test strips, pump/pod supplies, K-Tape, insulin, backup batteries. 

But even with streamlining, there are still some days when diabetes and checking throws me for a loop - like if my blood sugars are wonky, or if I’ve run out of test strips, or left something D related on the counter.... at home....or at the restaurant I've just left. 

When that happens, I feel like I also forgot to check for my sanity before I left the house, because I clearly feel like it's missing. 

And on those days when I feel as if I’ve checked for my sanity a million times and can’t locate it to save my life - I’m glad I have the Diabetes Online Community, DSMA, and my diabetes peeps.

“Checking out,” and taking a few minutes to read a blog post, chat on twitter, or text with a D friend - that makes all the difference. 

That right there is the best medicine - and I thank you guys for it.   

Day 2 of DiabetesBlogWeek: The Cost of A Chronic Illness

Day two of Diabetes Blog Week: The Cost of A Chronic Illness.

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The cost of my chronic illness, t1 diabetes keeps me up at night from worry and causes me to grind my teeth when I sleep - giving me yet another pre-existing condition (and two cracked molars,) in the process. 

The cost of diabetes makes me depressed, angry, and perpetually in a state of fight or flight mode.

The cost of diabetes has a negative affect on my savings and retirement plan and that has me frightened for my future, not to mention my health. 

The cost of diabetes makes me swallow my pride and ask my endo for samples  because for years my co-pays were crippling - and even thought they are better, they are still far from "easy on the wallet."  

And I’m grateful when he is able to give them to me. 

The cost of my diabetes means I wear an insulin pump with an expired warranty.

I’ve been acutely aware of the cost of diabetes since I was in single digits - and I guarantee that every single child living with diabetes/ has a parent or sibling living with D, knows how much diabetes costs their family - not only monetarily - but emotionally. 

I know the cost of diabetes kept my parents up at night and I know the cost of diabetes had a negative impact on their own health.

I know that some of my siblings sans diabetes, felt that they received less because of the financial burden that diabetes placed on my parents. 

3 out of 6 children with dt1 plus my dad - you do the math.  

So in turn, the cost of diabetes always has had me continually saying "I'm sorry," since the age of 8.

I do my best to allow my diabetes freak flag to fly, but some days the weight of my diabetes guilt has the power to stop me in my tracks. 

The cost of diabetes creeps into my daily thoughts, creates anxiety, and threatens my well being.

The cost of diabetes has turned me into a diabetes hoarder of insulin, pump supplies, test strips, and every thing in-be-tween, for myself and for others. 

The cost of diabetes has forced to advocate for myself from day one - and in turn has made me advocate for others. 

The cost of diabetes has made me MARCH. 

Do I think the cost of insulin and everything else related to diabetes is too expensive? 

Is the Pope Catholic? Of course I do! 

When the cost of a drug people use to stay alive is unaffordable to the very people who need to stay alive - I have a problem with that. 

I have a problem with R&D always being blamed for the cost of insulin that’s been off patent for well over a decade - and I’ve been incredibly vocal about that - and will continue to be. 

I have a HUGE problem with Shane Patrick Boyle and others dying because their insulin Go-Fund-Me accounts didn’t work fast enough. 

I have a problem that in the United States of America citizens living with diabetes have to resort to crowd sourcing in order to obtain insulin. 

I have a problem with families and individuals going broke and going without because they have to pay for insurance.

So I ALWAYS speak up, LOUDLY and often - sometimes face to face with Pharma, passionately and unapologetically - and I do not hold back. 

I make phone calls, send emails, and I write. 

My local Congressman knows my name and face because I called his office so many times about the cost of diabetes that he invited me to a sit down at his local office. And he was one of the 20 republican congressmen to vote AGAINST AHCA.

I use my voice, my pen, my and my vote - and I learn from others who are doing the same. 

The cost of diabetes requires me to know about insulin access programs and the likes there of - and tell others about them. 

The cost of diabetes has cost me the lives of people I love and people I’ve never met. 

The cost of diabetes has made me a fighter not by choice, but by necessity.

The cost of diabetes is exhausting and never ending. 

And the cost of diabetes has made me persist and I WILL NOT STOP.

I'M ANGRY

On Wednesday night I came home late and to the news that Lilly had announced price increases for a multitude of drugs, including insulin (7.8% price increase,) and I was pissed. I emailed Lilly at midnight, spoke with them yesterday afternoon for 38 minutes. 
Marinated and thought about what to write. 

Every single person I know living with diabetes struggles to pay for their disease - even those with the best insurance. And I'm angry that the price to keep us alive continues to go up.
And I'm angry about other things too. 

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I'M ANGRY.

I'm angry that that Lilly raised the price of their insulin 7.8 %  . 

But this isn't just a Lilly problem, other insulin companies have will be increasing their prices in the very near future and have publicly stated as such. 

Novo Nordisk stated at the end of last year that they will keep their price increase under 10%. 

On Tuesday, Sanofi announced a 5.4 % insulin price increase. 

I'm angry that people with diabetes are once again being hit by the financial implications of a disease we never chose or wanted. A disease I am doing my absolute best to live with - and hopefully helping others to do the same.

I’m angry because I’ve lost so many people I love in my bio and DOC family to diabetes.

I’m angry that people are dying in the United States of America because they can’t afford insulin.

I’m angry because high ranking White House official publicly perpetuated diabetes myths and stereotypes by blaming people living with diabetes - and used us as an excuse when it came to the return of pre-existing conditions clauses and high risk pools.. 

I’m angry that that The United States allows such outrageous pricing and the government doesn't seem to care. 

I'm angry that my friend with three children with diabetes was driven by tears of anger and frustration to write THIS. 

For pete's sake we can buy the same insulin in Canada for under 40 dollars.

I'm angry at health insurance companies, PBMs, and drug companies blaming one another while continuing to take our money.  

Im angry that all three can hike our prices just because they can and continually point the fingers at one another. As far as I'm concerned, they're all at fault and it must stop. 

And quite frankly, I’m angry that whatever good that's come out of the past 5 years of Lilly’s engaging with the DOC, up to and including the insulin access workshop three weeks ago, Monday's announcement of Lilly and other companies cross industry participation in Express Scripts GoodRX program, may have thrown under the bus - as were the Diabetes Advocates who attended the Insulin Access Workshop - and that makes me LIVID.
  

I'm proud of the communication channels that have been opened and I don't want those channels to be closed - but the announcement of yet another price increase that will impact millions, means those channel are clogged and in need of a good cleaning.

My anger and frustrations aren't focused on the PR/Patient Engagement side - I'm angry, you're angry, the PR team knows it.

The PR team aren't the Decision Makers at Lilly and their job became a lot harder this week and they have a lot of muck to clean up.

Sidebar: Years ago, I worked for a Corporate 300 technology company in Communications.  
My department was never a privy to price increases - that info was handled by Investor Relations,  Finance and Legal - they never divulged price hikes because of insider trading and investor fraud. Those of us in Corp Com and PR found out about the price hikes when they sent out their own press releases on the subject. I believe the same rules apply to Pharma.

No, my anger is directed at the Lilly Kingfishes. CEO's BOD, the Financial, Legal, and Investor Relations departments. And the Investors.

These are the folks who are involved in price increases. 

These are the folks who decided that now was a good time, a time when people in the United States are dying because they can’t afford insulin, and during a shit show happening in the United States with the implications of AHCA, the destruction of ACA, causing very real fears and emotions to run high. 

These are the folks decided that May 2017 was a great time increase prices.

THEY WERE WRONG.

And there's a lot to learn from this classic example of a billion dollar corp’s right hand 

( CEO, Board of Directors, Legal, Finance, Investor Relations) most likely not knowing what the left hand (PR, Social Media, Patient Engagement,) is doing - and most likely not caring. 

FTR and for those who have asked, I don’t believe that the Insulin Access Workshop was a PR stunt  - though it had the potential to generate some good PR and programs. 

Same goes for Lilly re: announcing their participation in the GoodRx.com. 

Seriously, what company would announce that they were participating in a program (including Sanofi, and Novo,) that reduced the price of insulins and other medications on the list by 34% price decrease for under insured/ uninsured - and then announce a price increase? 

That's CRAZY. 

Clearly there was some MAJOR communication issues between departments. 

Sidebar: Do I think that price of insulin with the 34% decrease in the GoodRX program still makes insulin too expensive? 

You bet I do. But between you and me and maybe it was wishful thinking, it was a good first step.
And I was hoping that it would force PBMs and Health Insurance companies to make the the next move. 

And now the positive that could be, has been dimmed because of Wednesday article re: the insulin price increase. 

Bottom line. People are awake and angry. The price of insulin is too damn high. 

Lilly’s head honchos, and their Financial, Legal, Investor Relations teams, need to get their heads out of their investors asses and hold the people who actually use their products in higher esteem - they need to put us first - or more realistically, they need to put investors and customers on the same playing field, instead of one side always being the victor. 

Those same people also need to educate themselves on what's going on with the patient engagement side of their company. 

Lilly, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, investors need to make noise re: the unrealistic price hikes - peoples lives and well being are at stake - and they are either part of the solution or part of the problem.

Also, this isn't just an an insulin issue - if it's happening with all our medications, it's happing with investor meds too. 

They have the power to make real change - and we will be watching.

Right now, Lilly needs step up because the spotlight is glaring on them - things are only going to get hotter. 

People are angry - the price of insulin needs to go down, and Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi need to make it right.

And the conversations need to continue - no holds barred.

Sidebar: Next time anyone feels the need to question diabetes advocates who sit at the table and advocate with industry face to face, remember this. 
EVERY SINGLE DIABETES ADVOCATE I KNOW works their asses off to advocate for change - it's 24X7, it's time away from our families, from our jobs, from our lives.
It's mostly thankless but we persist through good times and the bad, because we want to help people living with diabetes - and we're not going to stop. 

"Hold My Earrings," Because I Won't Stop Fighting AHCA !!!

GAME FUCKING ON.

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“Hold my earrings,” because Congress pissed me off and I won't stop fighting the shitshow that is AHCA!!

I won't stop fighting for people with diabetes or any other pre-existing condition and I won't stop fighting for the people I love and those I've never met who live with pre-existing conditions - GAME FUCKING ON.

Yesterday Republican (and a few Dems who could be bought,) lawmakers celebrated with beer and party in The White House Rose Garden after approving the American HealthCare Act. A bill that most Republicans didn’t bother to read, in order to take health care away from millions of Americans. 

A bill that if approved by the Senate, takes health care away from 24 million Americans and mean the return of Pre-Existing Conditions Clauses; High-risk pools, and lifetime health care caps to every American - and no matter where they get their insurance from. 

Sidebar: To see how your Congress person voted, click HERE. 

A bill that categorizes pregnancy; adoptions in progress, rape, and heavy periods, as pre-existing conditions. 

A bill categorizing almost every disease and chronic condition as a pre-existing condition - except for Erectile Dysfunction and being and asshat.  

GO FIGURE.

Bottom line: #HealthHasNoParty and diseases and chronic conditions don’t care what side of the fence you sit, and that don't give a crap if you're Red or Blue. 

Having a preexisting condition doesn't mean that you’re a bad person - it means you're fucking human-being! 

Pre-existing conditions are not character flaws or lifestyle choices, nor should they bankrupt families and or individuals because they have them. 

God doesn’t punish people by giving us pre-existing conditions, but many of our the majority of Republican lawmakers want to punish their constituents for having having pre-existing conditions - and they celebrated that fact.  

And now 12 Republican Senators (so much for bipartisanship and working together for all Americans,) 12 White republican men, who are filled with contempt and anger, and who don't seem to like women very much, are in charge of fine tuning the American Health Care Act.

Here's who's working on Trumpcare in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/Bqs5BNkAt9

— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) May 5, 2017

Feel safe yet? 

Neither do I. 

I'm angry and I am going to fight like hell - I'm ready to #CleanTheHouse - and I know the majority of you are too. 

We are angry, we are motived and we VOTE. 
And the battle Royale is about to begin

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Start by calling your State Senators, and follow up by calling every Senator in the United States and let them no how angry you are. 

Then call your rep in Congress and let them know that angry constituents = angry voters. 

And call all the Congressional reps (and on both sides of the fence,) who did vote NO. 

20 Republican Congressman went against their party and the majority them did for the right reasons - namely their constituents with Pre-existing conditions. 

Checkout and sign up for http://diabetespac.org , if you haven't already.

Also, here's a list of Republican congressional seats up for grabs - find out who their opponents are and donate to them!

We are this battle together - and we will fight to make it right. 

Don't give up and don't give in! 

My NYC #MarchforHealth Experience!

Apple issues with my technology at every turn as of late - sorry for the delay!

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I attended the NYC March for Health on April 1, 2017 and to say it was incredibly inspiring was an understatement
The weather was harsh, the passions were high, and I was blown away by what I was witnessing. 
Patients, Health care providers, unions, health non-profits, NY city and state agencies came together for our health care rights, and  shared stories that inspired me to fight harder for affordable health care access for all. 

I was one the people who was asked to share their health (in my case, t1 diabetes,) and ACA stories.
The clip above is me sharing my story, (shoutout to my friend Ron for taking the video,) it's short and straight from the heart and my busted pancreas! 

I've also included a few photos from the stage. 

View from the stage

If you want to view some incredible photos from the NYC March for Health, click HERE and HERE. To read more about the NYC, March for Health, click HERE. 

Huge thanks to the march organizers Amanda, Erin, Leyla, Annette, and the March's Partners including, but not limited too; The Children’s Defense Fund, Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), Diabulimia Helpline, Doctors Council SEIU, Doctors for America – New York, Empire State Medical Association (ESMA, NMA in NY), Health Alliance International, Health Care for All New York, Health Over Profit, Manhattan Central Medical Society (MCMS, NMA in Manhattan), Metro New York Health Care for All, National Physicians Alliance (NPA), New York Immigration Coalition, New York State Nurses Association, NYC Coalition to Dismantle Racism in the Health System, Organizing for Action – New York (OFA-NY), People of Color Against Aids Network (POCAAN), People’s Health Movement, Physicians for a National Health Program NY Metro Chapter, Progressive Doctors, Raising Women’s Voices-NY, Rise & Resist, The Betes Organization, Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN), Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, Whole Washington. 

The sign says so much! 

View from the stage and in color~

TODAY, Call Your Rep In Congress & Tell Them To Vote "NO" Re: The AHCA, #RyanCare/#Trumpcare

Thank you AARP for the above image! 

I have to speak up, because today our future healthcare is at stake and tomorrow congress votes. Today is the day to call your rep in Congress and tell them to vote NO re: repealing and replacing ACA with The American Health Care Act - the republican replacement plan for ACA.

FTR: If you don't like ACA/Obamacare, I get it - but the Republican Replacement Plan is horrible! AHCA brings back high risk pools - devastating for those of us with pre-existing conditions; adds an age tax to anyone over the age of 52, includes drastic cuts to medicaid, which so many adults and children with diabetes/ other illnesses require to stay healthy, and includes a Health Care Savings Account option that is absolutely worthless to anyone with a pre-existing condition. Diabetes wise, those accounts be would be depleted ASAP to pay for insulin; doctor's appointments, test-strips, pump supplies, RX's, and would cover only the bare minimum. 

AHCA also tax credits that only benefit the very wealthy, who most likely will not even be on an AHCA plan. Replacing ACA with a plan that increases costs and guarantees 52 million people will be without healthcare by 2026, (which isn't that far away,) IS NOT what's best for the American people.   

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If lawmakers want to replace ACA/ObamaCare, then replace it with something better for the American people, NOT WORSE. 

Tomorrow Congress votes on AHCA and today I’m speaking up - and I hope you do too! 

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Today is the day to make your voice heard - today is the day to call your Rep in Congress and tell them to vote NO re: (AHCA) The American Health Care Act, the Republican Replacement Plan for ACA. 

Whether you’re a fan of ACA/Obamacare or not, the Republican Replacement plan - AHCA is a horrific substitute that will cause 52 million Americans to be uninsured by 2026. 

The AHCA DOES NOT lower costs, it will increase them - whether you are insured by the plan or not.

The AHCA DOES NOT improve insurance, it negatively impacts everyone's health insurance across the board. 

The AHCA DOES NOT improve healthcare - it is detrimental to healthcare.

AHCA tax credits disproportionately benefit the wealthy - those who most likely would not be on The AHCA; the proposed medicaid cuts put 30 million children (including children with diabetes and children on state CHIP programs,) at risk, not to mention increased costs to the elderly, the economy, and adults with diabetes on medicaid and off, will be astronomical. 

No matter what side of the fence you sit, the American people deserve better than the The American Health Care Act.

Click HERE and send your message to Congress re: the Republicans AHCA bill  via DPAC. 

The Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, (DPAC,) is a wonderful resource for the DOC and beyond, with excellent tips re: talking with those that are on the fence in congress - GIVE A READ. 

Call and tweet your Reps in Congress today, (and thanks to DPAC for making it easy,) because tomorrow Congress votes on AHCA.

FTR: When I called my congressman this morning, I told his aide that if my rep voted for AHCA, AKA., #ryancare/#trumpcare, (name association to the plan is important - use it,) 

I wouldn’t be voting for him on November 18th, 2018 - Election Day. 

Today, use your voice and use it loudly, because tomorrow Congress votes on our health!

Dear Jason Chaffetz, If My t1 Diabetes Cost As Much As A New iPhone...

Dear Jason: 

Hi, my name's Kelly Kunik and I'm writing to let you know that unlike you, my constituents don’t pay for my health care, my iPhone, my cell phone bill, including data plan, or Apple Store purchases, I do. 

My constituents don’t pay for my type 1 diabetes either - I do 

Actually, I don't have any constituents, but if I did, I'd remember that I work for my constituents - and not just those in my state, but all those in my country and no matter which side of the political fence they sit.

I'd remember that they voted me in and that those same constituents can vote me out. 

Your insensitive asinine remark about Americans choosing between the latest iPhones and investing in their own healthcare really pissed me off. 

HOW DARE YOU. 

I'm invested in my own health care -I don't have a choice not to be! Every American is - who the hell are you to say that they aren't?!

Jas, you have no clue about health care costs because you don't have any. 

I would love it, if you wrote and sponsored a bill stating that every member of Congress and Senate go on the same plan as ACA or the Republican Replacement plan - which one would you rather have? 

If that clause was factored into the Republican Replacement Healthcare plan, you can be sure it would be much better than what's currently in that unmerciful plan. 

Dude, I dream of the day when my yearly diabetes costs equalled the cost of new iPhone - I kid you not @jasoninthehouse, THAT WOULD BE HEAVEN ON EARTH.

Hell, I’d settle for my monthly diabetes costs equaled the cost of my current ATT data plan, which equals $106 per month for unlimited data. Sweet data plan or sure, but I was grandfathered into it  - YAY ME. 

Honestly Jason, If my t1 diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, I wouldn’t be up at night worrying about the cost of diabetes. Costs like (but not limited to,)  insulin; test strips, insulin pumps, Doctors bills, monthly premiums and miscellaneous RXs.

If my diabetes cost me as much as a new iPhone, my bank account would have a lot more zeroes in it. 

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, my anxiety levels would be even keeled and my stress levels would be down - thus my blood sugars would be better with less effort and less insulin. 

Stress costs a boatloads. Staying healthy is stressful and paying for health insurance is even more stressful - you don't know that because you don't actually pay for your health insurance, but TRUST ME, IT'S FUCKING STRESSFUL. 

As of late and thanks to what’s going on re: the Republicans trying to replace ACA (and other things like the EPA, Dept of Education, ETC,) I’m stressing, BIG TIME. 

But back to your iPhone fiasco, statement.

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone, I wouldn’t have to fight with CareCentrix every three months to get the proper amount of test strips. 

If my yearly pump supplies cost as much as a new iPhone - I’d be whistling fucking Dixie.

If my 2015 deductible equaled the cost of a new iPhone, I would have met it long before I did. 

If my diabetes cost as much as a new iPhone I’d have peace of mind and a busted pancreas, instead of anxiety and a busted pancreas. 

For the record, @jasoninthehouse,  I finally bought a new 6+ iPhone in December of 2014 - just as my second hand, 5.5 year old iPhone 3 was starting to die. 

Yeah Jason, I wish my type 1 diabetes only cost $749 a year, plus, $39.96 for an iPhone case and $106  dollars a month for voice and data. 

BUT IT DOESN'T. The cost for my healthcare is a hell of lot more and I've been paying through the nose!

Except, this year I signed up for ACA and holy health care Jason, the difference is HUUUGGGEEE. 

I'll tell you all about it in my next post, where I talk about my pre ACA, post ACA insurance cost breakdown. 

Until then, #saveACA, start paying for your own healthcare and iPhone, and get off your high horse! 

Yours, 

Kelly Kunik

Person with t1 Diabetes &  Diabetes Advocate