If you think your blood glucose level is low, address the problem promptly. Stop what you’re doing, check your blood glucose level with your meter, and have a snack if necessary, even if you have to stop your car or interrupt a conversation to do it. If you don’t have your meter with you or can’t use it for any reason, go ahead and treat your symptoms of hypoglycemia without checking your blood glucose level first.

To treat hypoglycemia, chew and swallow four glucose tablets (containing about 4 grams of carbohydrate each) or drink about 5 ounces of orange juice or a regular (not diet) soft drink.

Videos can be helpful for teaching you new routines and keeping you motivated. However, rather than buying exercise videos at retail price, it is far more cost-effective to borrow them from your public library, buy them for pennies at a garage sale, record them from your TV or watch them online.

If you’re thinking of buying exercise equipment, only buy something if you’re sure you’ll use it regularly.

Walking is one of the best — and least expensive — forms of exercise. The only piece of equipment you need is a good pair of walking shoes.

One of the keys to saving money while maximizing nutrition is to plan meals well in advance.

Quite possibly. Generic drugs are almost identical to brand-name preparations, but they can cost significantly less. Ask your doctor if a generic version of your diabetes drugs is available and acceptable.

When shopping around for a deal on drug prices, consider all the medicines you take. Pick the source with the lowest overall cost for your total drug needs.

Manufacturer recommendations vary, but generally, opened bottles of insulin kept in either the refrigerator or at room temperature should be discarded after one month. Store unrefrigerated insulin below 86ºF away from heat and light and follow the manufacturer’s storage recommendations to avoid spoilage and waste.

Packaged alcohol wipes aren’t absolutely necessary. You can save money by using cotton balls and alcohol or by washing your hands with soap and water before each stick.

Look for a supplier that offers a frequent-buyer program with discounts and check for discount coupons in the packaging of your diabetes supplies.

Many insurance companies require personal initiation of each mail-order shipment, as opposed to automatically shipping supplies on a predetermined schedule. If you tend to forget to reorder supplies before you run out, therefore, it’s probably best to stick with local suppliers.

Ordering supplies by mail (on the Internet or by phone) is often the most cost-effective way to buy them.

If you are going to reuse a syringe, recap the needle after each use, and don’t use alcohol on it, as this can damage its protective coating.

One syringe can be used multiple times throughout a day, unless you have a history of infections or are ill or immune-compromised. Check with your doctor before you do this.

With good hygiene, it is usually acceptable to use the same lancet throughout a 24-hour period (but check with your doctor first). Remember, though, never to share your lancets with another person.

Yes — buying your supplies in bulk can save a significant amount of money. However, make sure you don’t buy more of any item than you will use before its expiration date.

The primary goal of diabetes management is optimal blood glucose control. Self-monitoring of blood glucose helps you and your diabetes care team evaluate your overall blood glucose control and review the trends and patterns of your blood glucose levels during the course of the day.