Before you get sick, make a plan:

Gather your supplies:

• Collect phone numbers of your doctors and health care team, your pharmacy and your insurance provider.
• Compile a list of medications and doses (including vitamins and supplements).
• Gather simple carbs like regular soda, honey, jam, Jell-O, hard candies or popsicles to help keep your blood sugar up if you are at risk for hypoglycemia and too ill to eat
• If a state of emergency is declared, get extra refills on your prescriptions so you do not have to leave the house as often.
  • If you can’t get to the pharmacy, find out about having your medications delivered.
• Always have enough insulin for at least 14 days, in case you get sick or cannot refill.
  • If you are struggling to pay for insulin or know someone who is, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) has resources to help—visit InsulinHelp.org
• Gather extra supplies like rubbing alcohol and soap to wash your hands.
• Make sure you have glucagon and ketone strips, in case of lows and highs.
• Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at home for at least 14 days, in case you need to quarantine.

Talk to your health care team:

Be ready to discuss:

• When to call your doctor's office (for ketones, changes in food intake, medication adjustments, etc.)
• How often to check your blood sugar
• When to check for ketones
• Medications you should use for colds, flu, virus, and infections
• Any changes to your diabetes medications when you are sick

Additional information for Medicare recipients:

For those on Medicare, keep in mind that Medicare covers many needs related to COVID-19, including:

• Lab tests for COVID-19—you pay no out-of-pocket costs
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized COVID-19 antibody (or “serology”) tests if you were diagnosed with a known current or known prior COVID-19 infection or suspected of past COVID-19 infection
• All medically necessary hospitalizations, including if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay but need to stay in the hospital under quarantine. You are still responsible for any hospital deductibles, copays or coinsurances that apply.

In addition, Medicare has temporarily expanded its coverage of telehealth services to help ensure you have access from more places, including your home, and with a wider range of communication tools, such as smartphones. This will help ensure you are able to visit with your doctor from your home without having to go to a doctor’s office or hospital, which puts you and others at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

You can learn more at medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus and by reading the FAQs.