The Best Free Resources for Americans with Diabetes

Getting diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes can be overwhelming. Many people find themselves scrambling to find information and support without breaking the bank.

Luckily, there are tons of FREE resources available to help people understand and manage their diagnosis. From Medicare-covered devices to meal planning tools to educational pamphlets, there are many organizations dedicated to connecting you with resources at absolutely no cost.

To make it easier to navigate the many wonderful organizations offering freebies for people with diabetes, we’ve created this master list of FREE diabetes resources from across the country (and the internet). Let’s get started!

How to Access Free Products and Services (Covered by Medicare, Insurance, or Other Programs)

To find an accredited Diabetes Education Program, visit the “Find a Program” Page on the American Association of Diabetes Educators website.

To get diabetic shoes, inserts, and other Medicare-covered products with direct insurance billing, visit nocostshoes.com.

For low-income support to access glucose monitors, medical testing and more, visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

To find a Diabetes Camp for children with Type 1 Diabetes to attend, visit “Find a Camp” on the Diabetes Education & Camping Association website.

Free Medical Support Resources for People With Diabetes

Self Care Diary – This printable diary from Lilly Diabetes will help you record all the information your health care provider needs about your diet, blood surgar, and more.

Medication Pocket Cards – This downloadable template from Diabetes Education Services will help you record your medical regimin, including insulin injections and oral medications, making it easier to get emergency care or share medical history with a new physician.

Monitoring Guide – This printable resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will teach you how to record your blood sugar properly.

Blood Glucose Monitoring Tip Sheets – These resources from the American Association of Diabetes Educators offer expert tips on how to properly monitor your blood sugar.

How to Inject Insulin – This guide from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you inject insulin properly.

Diabetes and Pregnancy Guide – This guide from the CDC is designed to help women have safe and healthy pregnancies and to control gestational diabetes.

Medication Planning Worksheet – This printable resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you ask the right questions to your doctor and remember to take the medications you need. Available in English and Spanish.

Medication Taking Tip List and Checklist – This printable resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help put your medical plan into action.

Free Diet and Meal Planning Resources for People With Diabetes

7-Day Diabetes Meal Plan – This meal plan from eatingwell.com is a great starting point for those looking to restructure their diet to manage diabetes.

Best Foods for You: Healthy Food Choices for People with Diabetes – This printable list from the American Diabetes Association is a great guideline for your grocery shopping and meal planning.

Cutting Back on Salt – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association offers great tips to help salt lovers cut down on their consumption to manage their diabetes.

Healthy Food Swaps – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association can help you pick better snacks to respond to your cravings and follow doctor’s orders. Great to hang on your refrigerator or in a snack cabinet!

How Much Sugar? – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association offers a step-by-step guide to measuring the sugar content of food and drinks.

Money Saving Shopping Tips – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association can help you eat healthy on a budget.

Recipe Makeover – This printable resource and worksheet from the American Diabetes Association will help you adapt your old recipes to your new lifestyle with healthier substitutions.

Smart Snacks – This printable resource and worksheet from the American Diabetes Association will help you plan for healthier snacking.

Fast Food Tips – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association will help you make better choices when visiting a fast food restaurant.

Alcohol & Diabetes – This printable resource from the American Diabetes Association will give you helpful tips and valuable information on drinking alcohol with diabetes.

Free Active Lifestyle & Exercise Resources for People With Diabetes

8 Week Workout Plan – This 8-week exercise plan from SparkPeople offers a straight-forward week by week plan and physical activity tips for people with diabetes – includes helpful videos to learn new exercises.

Being Active Worksheet – This worksheet from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you plan for everyday activity.

Tips for Being Active with Diabetes – This worksheet from the CDC offers tips for a safe and healthy exercise plan.

Free Risk Management Resources for People With Diabetes

Reducing Risk Worksheet – This worksheet and tip sheet from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you stay safe and healthy during daily activities.

Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease – These resources from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will educate you on how to care for your heart health with diabetes.

Free Mental Health Resources for People With Diabetes

Problem Solving Worksheet – This resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you take on some of the decisions and challenges that come with a diabetes diagnosis.

Healthy Coping – This resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you adjust to the lifestyle changes that come with diabetes.

Mental Health and Diabetes – This resource from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you manage mental health issues like stress, depression, and anger. Available in both English and Spanish.

Peer & Community Support Listing – This list from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you find support in your community and online.

Free Holiday Resources for People With Diabetes

Holidays and Special Events Worksheet – This printable worksheet from the American Diabetes Association helps you make a plan for eating healthy during special occasions.

Holiday Tip Sheets from AADE – These tip sheets from the American Association of Diabetes Educators will help you manage your health on a variety of occasions, from Thanksgiving dinner to picnics and even football season. Available in English and Spanish!

Buffet Table Tips for People with Diabetes – This resource from the CDC offers tips to help people with diabetes manage buffets, potlucks, and other special occasions.

6 Awesome Apps for Managing Diabetes (pssst…they’re all free!)

Managing diabetes can seem like a lot of work, but new technology is making it easier than ever to track blood sugar, plan meals, and more! Here are some of the best downloadable mobile apps to help you live a full and healthy life with diabetes.

Medical ID : ICE – In Case of Emergency, a free Android app and iPhone feature to help you share medical information with first responders.

App medical ID : ICE best apps for diabetes — source: support.apple.com

In case of an emergency, this simple but powerful app can make sure that first responders and helpers know of your medical condition(s). Medical ID: ICE allows users to write a medical profile that is accessible from the lock screen, offering quick information on emergency contacts, medication, conditions and allergies. Note that while this is an app for Android, Medical IDs are a built-in feature for iPhones – you can set yours up by following these instructions.

Diabetes:M, a free app for logging glucose levels and nutrition.

Diabetes:M best app for diabetes logging free — source: diabetes-m.com

Logging apps like Diabetes:M make it easy to record and share treatment information with physicians and loved ones. Diabetes:M allows you to log everything from food intake to glucose levels to exercise time. Try using Diabetes:M with a sophisticated nutrition app like Fooducate or My Diet Diary to get a full picture of your health and wellness.

Sugar Sense, a free app for tracking carbs, blood sugar, and glucose readings.

Sugarsense is another tracking option focused on blood sugar readings specifically. One of the major benefits of Sugar Sense is its compatibility with other wellness apps, such as your fitness tracker and My Diet Diary. Doctors love it because it allows you to view your estimated HbA1C level and track your progress over time. Overall, its a great app for combining fitness data with diabetes management updates.

Health2Sync, a free app that tracks blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and mood. It can also synchronize to your glucometer.

Like the other two apps listed above, Health2Sync captures data on multiple health indicators like blood sugar, weight, and blood pressure. It differentiates itself from other apps by syncing glucometer readings (at an additional cost) and by tracking your mood so you can get a full picture of mental and physical health.

Diabetes Recipe App, a free app that puts 400+ diabetes-friendly recipes at your fingertips.

One of the biggest challenges of adjusting to a diabetic lifestyle is changing your diet. This app allows you to find delicious diabetes-friendly recipes handpicked by the folks at diabetes.co.uk. You can filter recipes by carbs, calories, meal type and more to build a healthy meal plan that fits your life (and tastebuds!).

Glooko, a diabetes management app syncs with your glucose monitor (paid app, but may be covered by insurance).

While Glooko costs $5 per month, we have included it in this list because many people are able to access the app for free through their insurance company, employer and other sponsored medical programs. Glooko syncs with your BG meter, insulin pump and/or CGM, allowing you to monitor and record your blood sugar data alongside food, medication, and lifestyle data to an accurate picture of your well-being. Trust us – doctors love it when their patients can show them all this information in one place.

My Podiatrist Doesn’t Sell Diabetic Shoes Anymore. Now What?

Many people with diabetes are used to buying their diabetic shoes and inserts from their podiatrists. But as Medicare rules continue to change and tighten, doctors are increasingly choosing to no longer sell shoes directly to patients. Although this may be necessary for the viability of the clinic, it can be a challenge for both patients and doctors, who may wonder, “Where can I get diabetic shoes now that my podiatrist or doctor does not sell them?”

Podiatrists will often point their patients to nocostshoes.com. Nocostshoes.com is an easy-to-use, Medicare approved service from Quantum Medical Supplies. We offer in-home shoe fitting and diabetic shoe sales across the United States. Shoe buying services are available online or over the phone by calling 1-866-923-2423.

Whether you choose to buy shoes from nocostshoes.com or somewhere else, there are a few extra considerations you should make when purchasing shoes from someone other than a medical professional.

1. Make sure your diabetic shoe brand and supplier are Medicare approved.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying diabetic shoes is purchasing shoes that, while marketed as “therapeutic,” aren’t actually covered by Medicare. Medicare only approves specific brands and suppliers for coverage, so double-checking is a good idea.

There are a few ways to ensure you are purchasing Medicare or insurance approved diabetic shoes.

Buy your shoes from a store, shoe fitter or online supplier that offers direct billing to Medicare and insurance.
Contact Medicare to confirm that the shoes will be covered.
Check with your doctor or podiatrist to understand what specific kinds of shoes are covered under their prescription. The often have a good understanding of insurance coverage related to these items.

2. Get professionally fitted for your diabetic shoes.

Even if a podiatrist is not selling shoes to you directly, you will want a foot care professional involved in your purchase. Many insurers will only cover diabetic shoes that are custom fitted, which requires a professional shoe fitting. Custom fitted shoes are safer for your feet and more comfortable, so skipping this step is not advisable.

Even if your podiatrist no longer supplies shoes, there are a few options here:

Ask your podiatrist if they are able to offer a shoe fitting during your annual foot care appointment.
Ask your doctor for a recommendation of a professional who may be able to assist with this.
Book an in-home shoe fitting with No Cost Shoes. Simply call us at 1-866-923-2423 and a registered professional will come to your home to help to fit and order the best shoes for you.

3. Remember to get new shoes every year.

There’s a good reason Medicare covers a new pair of shoes each year: the material on your shoes will wear out over time, and regular replacement is critical to keeping your feet supported, comfortable and safe.

When you are not buying shoes from your podiatrist, it can be easy to forget your annual shoe purchase. Finding a new supplier and ordering shoes takes time, and many people procrastinate on this important annual purchase once their podiatrist stops supplying shoes. Here are a few tips to keep your diabetic shoes top of mind:

Ask your podiatrist’s office to contact you for your annual appointment (covered by Medicare) at the same time every year. Directly following this appointment, contact No Cost Shoes or visit your local therapeutic shoe supplier. After doing this for a few years in a row, it will become an easy-to-follow routine.
Remind your doctor and podiatrist of your need for diabetic shoes. This will ensure you get the right prescriptions each year, while also reminding you to replace your old shoes following appointments.
Tell a trusted family member, like a child or a spouse, about your need for diabetic shoes. They can help you to remember when it’s time to replace them.
Write a note in your calendar on a year from when you bought your first pair of shoes as a reminder to get a new pair.
If you purchase shoes from nocostshoes.com, keep an eye on your email for our annual reminder to get new shoes.

How to find a new diabetic shoe supplier near you

The internet has put many diabetic shoe brands and related products at our fingertips. Ordering online can be an easy option for many individuals – however, it’s important to double check issues like insurance coverage and proper fit before pressing “purchase.”

Whether you choose to use No Cost Shoes service or find another supplier, make sure you ask the right questions to the right people in order to keep your feet healthy and safe for the right price.

Click here or call 1-866-923-2423 to check your Medicare eligibility with No Cost Shoes.

Going to the Gym with Diabetes? 6 Critical Tips about Exercise for Diabetics

Just like a healthy diet, exercise can help people to manage diabetes. Medical professionals tend to agree on this fact, but coming up with a fitness plan can be confusing; some experts encourage regular workouts while others caution against intense movement.

At No Cost Shoes, we get a lot of questions from diabetics hoping to get on their feet in a healthy, sustainable way. Here the six most critical tips to consider as you strive for a more active lifestyle.

Note: This article is a collection of general, helpful tips and should not replace professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting any exercise plan.

1. Check your heart health first.

People who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes often have other co-existing health challenges, such as obesity, high blood pressure, or heart conditions. While exercise may help control diabetes, starting a rigorous fitness program without considering these other conditions would be a mistake.

For example, while exercise is generally a good move for heart health, working out too vigorously at first can cause issues. It is particularly important to chat with a doctor if you have blocked arteries or high blood pressure, as these conditions can be impacted by physical activity.

2. Always keep a 15 g carb snack with you – and don’t forget the water!

As a diabetic, it’s a good idea to stay hydrated and keep a low blood glucose treatment handy at all times. That advice is even more critical when you’re exercising. A 15g carb snack, like a granola bar, can serve as a necessary source of glucose in a pinch. This tip is particularly critical when you’re working out where food may not be readily available – for example, when you go on a wilderness hike.

3. Record your progress.

The more information you can provide to your doctor, the better. A record of what you’re doing will help a medical professional understand the progress you’re making and how your fitness plan is affecting your overall health. If writing everything down seems tedious, consider investing in a fitness tracker. These high-tech watches can keep an eye on steps, heart rate, movement goals and more – all information your doctor might find useful at your next check-up.

4. See the right professional.

While your family doctor might be great at diagnosing issues and prescribing medication, he or she may not be particularly experienced with diabetic fitness (after all, no one is an expert in everything!). Consider working with an exercise physiologist or a personal trainer with diabetic knowledge to get started in the right direction. An expert can show you which exercises to focus on, how hard to work, and even how to make fitness fun! If you’re new to exercise, having someone by your side to help out can make a big difference.

5. Test your blood sugar regularly.

Hemoglobin A1C and blood glucose testing are important rituals for any diabetic. For those taking on an exercise plan, testing has an added perk – motivation! Exercise often keeps blood sugar under control, and good test results can bring a sense of encouragement for those taking their first steps into a healthier lifestyle.

6. Take care of your feet and wear the right shoes when exercising.

Diabetes is linked to foot problems for two reasons. First of all, diabetes can cause nerve damage that impacts a foot’s sensitivity to pain – imagine breaking a toe while working out and not even feeling it! Add to this poor circulation issues, and suddenly feet are at major risk for active diabetics.

When working out, take these steps to protect your feet:

Pick an exercise plan that is lower risk for your feet. Instead of running on rough terrain, for example, try using an exercise bike or a paved sidewalk.
Nerve damage could make it difficult to detect injuries, so be sure to inspect your feet during and after an exercise session. If you fall on, twist, or hit your foot, do not use pain as an indicator of damage. Instead, stay off of the foot for a few hours and have it inspected by a medical professional.
Get diabetic shoes that are optimized for activity. Medicare and major insurance companies cover one pair and two inserts per year, so it’s best to replace your shoes every 12 months (it’s free, so why not?). If you’re a resident of the United States and want to see if you’re covered for diabetic shoes, click here.

Staying healthy with diabetes

Staying healthy with diabetes is not a matter of just taking a pill and moving on – lifestyle changes and preventative measures are often a critical part of a treatment plan. Done correctly, exercise can and should be a part of this journey!

Keeping healthy with diabetes doesn’t have to be expensive – while gyms and trainers are amazing support, even a daily walk outside in the right pair of shoes can help support a healthy, happy life.