JDRF remains committed to keeping families informed about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We will continue to update the COVID-19 page on jdrf.org as more information becomes available.

We know that times like these can cause a lot of anxiety. We also know that type 1 diabetes (T1D) never stops, and this comes with its own stressors. To help you manage your worry, your JDRF Greater Delaware Valley outreach staff pulled together a variety of resources, including some that can help cover the cost of insulin.

Last week, Dr. Nicole Johnson spoke about managing stress in the face of the COVID-19 disease pandemic on JDRF’s Facebook Live. Dr. Johnson has served as a diabetes advocate since she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 1993. Although she is well known as Miss America 1999, over the last 20 years she has gained a reputation for her engagement in diabetes research focused on quality of life, psychosocial issues, and family dynamics.

You can watch the live video recording here and read Dr. Johnson’s 10 tips to keep stress in check!

We recommend checking out JDRF’s Guide for Insulin Prescription and Costs. This guide offers great information and resources to help in a wide array of situations you may be facing. If you are in need of help finding insurance, please also consult the JDRF Health Insurance Guide.

Another valuable resource is Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare. The NovoCare Patient Assistance Program provides diabetes medication at no cost to those who qualify. There is no registration charge or monthly fee for participating.

We encourage you to ensure all your prescriptions are current and you have the maximum number of refills available. Also consider contacting your pharmacy to see if you can refill your prescription even if it is before the typical 30-day time window, as some state and/or health insurance companies are waiving refill restrictions because of COVID-19.

The Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition (DDRC) is also an asset during the COVID-19 outbreak. Since people living with diabetes face unique challenges during times of disaster, this DDRC created a Diabetes Disaster Preparedness Plan that includes a checklist of supplies, information, and guidelines to help you remain safe and healthy during emergencies. Building a diabetes kit now can save a lot of worry and time during a disaster.

JDRF also recently hosted a Facebook Live Q&A session with Dr. Mary Pat Gallagher, a pediatric endocrinologist at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. Dr. Gallagher discussed how COVID-19 can impact those living with T1D. You can watch the recording here.

Stay tuned to the JDRF HQ page for more Facebook Live sessions about about COVID-19 and T1D.