As a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association, Rite Aid supports the diabetes community by providing educational resources to people affected by diabetes and by helping to raise funds for research and educational programs in the community. Rite Aid also has specially trained pharmacists, which they call "diabetes specialists," who are ready to help answer your questions and discuss your options in managing diabetes.
Please review the list of most recently asked questions below and if your area of concern is not addressed, we encourage you to submit a question to our expert – be sure to check back in two weeks to see the answer.
Top 10 Questions & Answers
- How do I know if I have diabetes?
- I’m concerned about having diabetes. Are there certain symptoms that I should be looking for?
- My doctor said I have pre-diabetes, what does that mean?
- Please explain which of my medications are for my diabetes.
- Am I taking too many medications? What are they all for?
- How can I tell if my diabetes medications are improving my diabetes?
- When is the best time to take my medications for my diabetes?
- I cannot afford my medications, is there help available?
- What information sources can you recommend to me to learn more about diabetes? I like to use the internet for my information.
- What resources are available in the community for diabetes education?
How do I know if I have diabetes?
In order to diagnose diabetes, your physician must do a blood test on you. Above normal results will be used to determine if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Any test resulting in a positive result (above normal) should be repeated on a different day. Here are commonly performed tests:
Fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) – this test checks the amount of glucose in your blood after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating or drinking. This test is most commonly administered first thing in the morning after fasting overnight.
- A normal FPG is less than 100 mg/dl
- If your FPG is between 100 and 125 mg/dl, this suggests pre-diabetes
- If your FPG is 126 mg/dl or higher, this suggests diabetes
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) – this test checks the amount of glucose in your blood after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating, and then again 2 hours after drinking a glucose-containing beverage.
- A normal 2-hour glucose on the OGTT is less than 140 mg/dl
- If your 2-hour glucose is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, this suggests pre-diabetes
- If your 2-hour glucose is 200 mg/dl or higher, this suggests diabetes
A random glucose test checks the amount of glucose in your blood without regard to when you last ate. This test is not typically done to diagnose diabetes, unless you have extreme symptoms of diabetes. If your random glucose is 200 mg/dl or higher, this suggests diabetes.
I'm concerned about having diabetes. Are there certain symptoms that I should be looking for?
Some symptoms of diabetes may include:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurred vision Top
My doctor said I have pre-diabetes, what does that mean?
Pre-diabetes is a term used to describe people who have blood glucose levels that are above normal, but not elevated enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Glucose levels during this stage are between 100-125 mg/dL after an overnight fast (FPG) or between 140-199 mg/dL after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
Pre-diabetes increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Additionally, many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop diabetes within 10 years. If you are proactive during this stage, you can reduce your risk or delay the development of these conditions and the need for life-long medication by decreasing your weight, increasing your physical activity, and watching your diet. Top
Please explain which of my medications are for my diabetes.
Many medications are used to treat diabetes. Below is a list of the 9 classes of diabetes medications with a few examples of commonly prescribed drugs that belong to each class. If you still have questions regarding your medications, please visit or call your local pharmacy.
- Thiazolidinedione (TZD or glitazones) – pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- Sulfonylurea – glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), glimepiride (Amaryl)
- Incretin Mimetic Agents - exenatide (Byetta)
- Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors – acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset)
- Amylin Analog – pramlintide (Symlin)
- Meglitinides – nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin)
- Insulin – insulin regular (Humulin R, Novolin R), insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N), insulin aspart (Novolog), insulin lispro (Humalog), insulin detemir (Levemir), insulin glargine (Lantus), insulin glulisine (Apidra)
- Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors – sitagliptin (Januvia)
- Biguanide – Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet) Top
Am I taking too many medications? What are they all for?
Many medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol require two or more medications to help keep the disease under control and lower the risk of developing complications. Diabetes often exists with other conditions; therefore, people with diabetes take a number of different medications. Your local pharmacist can explain why you are taking a specific medication. If you are concerned about the number of medications you are currently taking, please consult with your physician. Top
How can I tell if my diabetes medications are improving my diabetes?
Diabetes medications work with your diet and physical activity to control diabetes by keeping your glucose down closer to the normal, healthy range. The easiest way to determine if your medication is working is through monitoring your blood glucose at home using a glucose monitor.
Self Monitoring:
In general, if you have type 1 diabetes you should test at least 3-4 times a day. If you have type 2 diabetes it depends on whether you are taking insulin as well as on other factors. Ask your physician how often you should check your blood glucose level.
Blood Glucose Target Recommendations:
Your individual blood glucose targets can depend on many factors, such as your age, type of medication, whether you are pregnant, and whether you are prone to severe low blood glucose reactions. For most non-pregnant adults with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends targets of:
70 - 130 mg/dl (5.0-7.2 mmol/l) before meals
Less than 180 mg/dl (less than 10 mmol/l) 1-2 hours after the start of a meal
A1C or Average Glucose:
Your doctor can also perform a blood test called the Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) test, which is a measure of your average glucose over the past 3 months. Like blood glucose goals, your individual goal depends on many factors. The ADA goal for many non-pregnant adults is an A1C less than 7% (average glucose less than 154 mg/dl). Top
When is the best time to take my medications for my diabetes?
The time of dosing varies based on the type of medication and the dose. Some medications can be taken without regard to food, while others need to be taken with breakfast or dinner. Some medications are dosed once a day, while others are dosed more often. Please ask your pharmacist if you have questions regarding your dosing schedule. Top
I cannot afford my medications, is there help available
There are several ways to get help in paying for your diabetes care:
- Medicare is a government funded program for people over age 65. Medicare now includes coverage for glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets as well as medical nutrition therapy services for people with diabetes or kidney disease when referred by a doctor. Diabetes self-management training, therapeutic shoes, glaucoma screening, and flu and pneumonia shots are also covered. The Medicare program offers a searchable database of prescription drug assistance programs at www.medicare.gov/Choices/Overview.asp. This website gives information on public and private programs offering discounted or free medication. You can also learn about Medicare Part D prescription coverage.
- Medicaid is also available to those who make below a certain amount of yearly income. Requirements vary by state. Check with your state for details.
- For children whose families make above Medicaid levels but make too little to afford private health care, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Information can be obtained by calling 1–877–KIDS–NOW (543–7669) or online at www.insurekidsnow.gov.
- The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration, offers health care for people regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. To find local health centers, call 1–800–400–2742 and ask for a directory, or visit the bureau's website at www.bphc.hrsa.gov on the Internet.
- Veterans should inquire at their local VA Hospital about their eligibility for health care services, including prescription medications.
- Drug companies that make insulin or diabetes medications usually have patient assistance programs. You or your physician can contact the manufacturer directly for information on these programs.
- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its member companies sponsor an interactive website known as the Partnership for Prescription Assistance with information on drug assistance programs at www.pparx.org or by calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).
- Together RX Access is a card which allows qualifying patients to save on certain prescription medications. This card is made possible through a coalition of pharmaceutical companies. To enroll, you may call 1-800-444-4106 or enroll online at www.togetherrxaccess.com.
What information sources can you recommend to me to learn more about diabetes? I like to use the internet for my information.
While the internet has a lot of great information, you must be careful that the information is from a reliable source. Here are some great resources for diabetes information:
- American Diabetes Association: diabetes.org
- The National Diabetes Clearinghouse: diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
- Center for Disease Control, Diabetes public health resource: cdc.gov/diabetes/
- Rite Aid provides an 'Ask the Pharmacist' service on riteaid.com and diabetes.org
What resources are available in the community for diabetes education?
You may wish to check with your healthcare provider for assistance finding programs in your area. To find a diabetes education program in your area recognized by the American Diabetes Association, call 1-800-DIABETES or go to http://professional.diabetes.org/erp_list.aspx. A program that is recognized by the ADA has shown that it meets certain standards for educational quality. Medicare and many other insurance plans will cover diabetes education obtained through an ADA-recognized program. Your pharmacist is a readily accessible resource in your community. You can walk in for a face to face consultation, call, or ask questions online. Top
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