Show Your
Patients Support
Advocate for Your Patients
Advocate for access to treatment by bringing your treatment recommendations directly to insurance providers. Your support can help those living with diabetes, and those who care for them, receive the best possible treatment.
Share Your Voice
If you prefer to write your own letter instead of using the form above, just download our template to get started. This letter helps you share with insurance providers why you are recommending your patient for the latest medical advancements or cutting-edge technology.
Tips for Advocacy:
- Introduce yourself and relationship to your patient.
- Include your patient's insurance policy number and group number.
- Describe your patient’s diabetes diagnosis and treatment challenges, including any avoidable costly procedures or medical treatments resulting from lack of access.
- Share details about why your patient’s current treatment is no longer optimal and how the new treatment will improve their health and lifestyle.
- Be specific about the product by including its National Drug Code (NDC)* in your description.
- Share details of your patient’s medical history to show they are a good candidate for this product.
- Be firm that you are requesting this new product because it is medically necessary and not due to personal preference.
- Share emotion, but don’t be angry.
- Keep your message concise, but firm.
- Review for grammatical and spelling errors.
- Conclude with action requested and timeframe for response.
- Don’t get discouraged if you do not hear back right away.
- Find multiple people at the organization to send your letter to.
- Follow up after two weeks.
- Be persistent without being pushy.
- Be proud of taking action.
*The National Drug Code Directory lists all over the counter and prescription products in the United States, including diabetes treatment technologies like Omnipod. The NDC number is a unique number that helps identify products in the United States, containing information about the manufacturer, the product, and the packaging. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes a regularly updated list of all NDC numbers.
Sharing their story
Trent and Cindy Wright, Mom and Caregiver
Cindy Wright shares encouragement and tips in successfully advocating for the technology Trent needs to manage his diabetes.
ACT
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Karen Graffeo
Program Manager, DiabetesSisters
“I’ve found these guides helpful for myself when faced with access issues. I've been proud to recommend them to our community, members of my PODS Meetup group, and people living with chronic illnesses other than diabetes.”
Christel Marchand Aprigliano
Chief Advocacy Officer, Beyond Type 1
“Each one of us has a voice. When our voices are raised as one, our community is an unstoppable force. In advocating for diabetes policy changes, you are not just helping yourself – you're helping millions of Americans impacted by diabetes.”
Todd Boudreaux
Editorial Manager, Beyond Type 1
"For people living with diabetes, access to the treatment options of your choice at a reasonable cost is non-negotiable. If you can’t get the technology or medication you need, make noise, seek help from resources like Beyond Type 1, and don’t ever give up."
Sara Blackington
"Living with Type 1 diabetes is a huge challenge, requiring immense focus, strength and hard work, day in and day out. The times I had stubborn high blood sugar or a crazy low, I could trace it all back to not speaking up for my best interests and needs. The best advice I can give is to be your own advocate, to voice your needs, and defend what you need to be healthy and successful."
Bob Parant
“I have been living with Type 1 diabetes, a silent, chronic disease, for 47 years. I feel it is my absolute responsibility to speak up on the injustices and inequities I have experienced in our healthcare system. Your story and voice can and must be heard to create positive change and shape the future for people with diabetes.”
Helpful Resources
Arm yourself with resources and tips to enhance your knowledge of how to advocate.
