Diabetes Medication Price Guide: Latest Price Comparisons and Money-Saving Strategies

Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term medication. Choosing the right drugs and controlling medication costs are crucial for patients. This article provides a detailed overview of diabetes medication prices, including the market prices of insulin and oral hypoglycemic drugs, medical insurance reimbursement policies, and how to save money on medications, helping diabetic patients reasonably plan their treatment expenses.

1. Overview of Diabetes Medication Prices

1. Insulin Price Comparison (Unit: vial/cartridge)

Tips:

• Domestic insulin brands (e.g., Gan & Lee Pharma, Tonghua Dongbao) are 30%-50% cheaper than imported brands (e.g., Novo Nordisk, Sanofi).
• Some insulins (such as insulin glargine) have been included in the national centralized procurement program, leading to significant price reductions.

2. Oral Hypoglycemic Drug Price Comparison (Unit: box)

Tips:

• Metformin is the most economical hypoglycemic drug, with the domestic version costing only about ¥20-30 per month.
• SGLT-2 inhibitors (such as dapagliflozin) and DPP-4 inhibitors (such as sitagliptin) are relatively expensive, but prices have decreased for some drugs after entering medical insurance coverage.

2. How to Reduce Diabetes Medication Costs?

1. Choose Medications Covered by Medical Insurance

• Category A drugs (e.g., metformin) are fully reimbursed.
• Category B drugs (e.g., insulin, SGLT-2 inhibitors) are reimbursed at about 50%-70%, varying by region.
• Self-paid drugs (such as some new hypoglycemic drugs) are more expensive; consult your doctor for alternatives.

2. Participate in National Centralized Procurement or Hospital Group Purchases

• After national centralized procurement, prices for some insulins and oral hypoglycemic drugs have dropped by more than 50%.
• Some tertiary hospitals offer diabetes medication group purchases with even better prices.

3. Online Purchasing is Cheaper

• Platforms like JD Health and AliHealth often offer discounts, making prices 10%-20% cheaper than offline pharmacies.
• Professional pharmaceutical e-commerce platforms such as 111.com.cn and Dingdang Kuaiyao provide member discounts.

4. Apply for Chronic Disease Outpatient Reimbursement

• Diabetic patients can apply for special chronic disease outpatient medical insurance, which provides higher annual reimbursement limits.
• Some regions (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai) offer diabetes medication subsidies.

3. Precautions When Purchasing Diabetes Medications

1. Avoid Buying Counterfeit Drugs

• Look for the National Medicine Approval Number (e.g., H2023XXXX).
• Purchase through authorized channels (hospitals, chain pharmacies, official e-commerce platforms).

2. Do Not Change Medications Arbitrarily

• Different brands of insulin must not be mixed; dosage adjustments should be under medical supervision.
• When switching oral hypoglycemic drug brands, monitor blood glucose changes closely.

3. Pay Attention to Drug Side Effects

• Metformin may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
• SGLT-2 inhibitors (such as dapagliflozin) may increase the risk of urinary tract infections.

4. Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes Medications

Q1: Why is insulin so expensive?

• Imported insulin has high R&D costs and patent protection, leading to higher prices.
• New types of insulin (such as insulin degludec) cost 2-3 times more than traditional insulin.

Q2: How much does medical insurance reimburse?

• Metformin (Category A) is 100% reimbursed.
• Insulin (Category B) reimbursement ranges from 50%-70%, depending on the region.

Q3: Where is the cheapest place to buy diabetes medications?

✅ Hospital pharmacies (lowest prices after centralized procurement)
✅ JD Health / AliHealth (frequent discounts)
✅ Designated medical insurance pharmacies (can use medical insurance cards)

5. Summary: How to Save Money When Buying Diabetes Medications?

1. Prioritize Category A medical insurance drugs (such as metformin).
2. Participate in national centralized procurement or hospital group purchases for lower prices.
3. Compare prices online and choose the most cost-effective channels.
4. Apply for chronic disease medical insurance to increase reimbursement limits.

Friendly reminder: Diabetes requires long-term management. Proper medication use combined with regular blood glucose monitoring is key to effective control. It is recommended to have check-ups every 3 to 6 months to adjust the treatment plan accordingly.