Financial Help for 

Diabetes Care 

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services 

NATIONAL 

INSTITUTES 

OF HEALTH 

Diabetes treatment is expensive. According to the American Diabetes Association, 

people with diabetes spend an average of 

$11,744 a year on health care expenses— 

more than twice the amount spent by people 

without diabetes. 

Many people who have diabetes need help 

paying for their care. For those who qualify, 

a variety of governmental and nongovernmental programs can help cover health care 

expenses. This publication is meant to help 

people with diabetes and their family members find and access such resources. 

Medicare 

Medicare is federal health insurance for the 

following groups: 

•	 people 65 or older 

•	 people younger than 65 with certain disabilities or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 

(ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease 

•	 people of any age with end-stage renal 

disease—permanent kidney failure 

requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant 

Medicare Health Plans 

People with Medicare can choose how to get 

their health and prescription drug coverage. 

The following options are available: 

•	 Original Medicare 

•	 Medicare Advantage Plans—such as 

health maintenance organizations 

(HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs) 

•	 other Medicare health plans 

Original Medicare. Original Medicare, managed by the Federal Government, has two 

parts: Medicare Part A is hospital insurance 

and Medicare Part B is medical insurance. 

People in this plan usually pay a fee for each 

health care service or supply they receive. 

People who are in Original Medicare can 

add prescription drug coverage—Medicare 

Part D—by joining a Medicare Prescription 

Drug Plan. These plans are run by insurance companies and other private companies 

approved by Medicare. 

People can also choose to buy insurance to 

help fill the gaps in Part A and Part B coverage. This insurance is known as Medigap or 

Medicare Supplement Insurance. 
 

Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare 

Advantage Plans are health plan options, 

like an HMO or PPO, approved by Medicare 

and offered by private companies. These 

plans are part of Medicare and are sometimes called Part C or MA Plans. Medicare 

Advantage Plans provide Medicare Part A 

and Part B coverage and usually Medicare 

Part D coverage. The companies that run 

these plans must follow rules set by Medicare. Not all Medicare Advantage Plans 

work the same way. People considering one 

of these plans should find out the plan’s rules 

before joining. 

Other Medicare Health Plans. Other 

Medicare health plans include Medicare 

Cost Plans, Demonstrations/Pilot Programs, 

and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for 

the Elderly (PACE). These plans provide 

hospital and medical insurance coverage, 

and some also provide prescription drug 

coverage. 

To get more information about Medicare 

coverage, see “More Information about 

Medicare” on page 3. 

Medicare Covers Diabetes 

Services and Supplies 

Original Medicare helps pay for the diabetes services, supplies, and equipment listed 

below. Coinsurance or deductibles may 

apply. In addition, Medicare covers some 

preventive services for people who are at risk 

for diabetes. A person must have Medicare 

Part B or Medicare Part D to receive these 

covered services and supplies. 

Medicare Part B helps pay for 

•	 diabetes screening tests for people at 

risk of developing diabetes 

•	 diabetes self-management training 

•	 diabetes supplies such as glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets 

•	 insulin pumps and insulin if used with 

an insulin pump 

•	 flu and pneumonia shots 

•	 foot exams and treatment for people 

with diabetes 

•	 eye exams to check for glaucoma and 

diabetic retinopathy 

•	 medical nutrition therapy services for 

people with diabetes or kidney disease, 

when referred by a doctor 

•	 therapeutic shoes or inserts, in some 

cases 

Medicare Part D helps pay for 

•	 diabetes medicines 

•	 insulin, but not insulin used with an 


insulin pump
 

•	 diabetes supplies like needles and 


syringes for injecting insulin
 

People who are in a Medicare Advantage 

Plan or other Medicare health plan should 

check their plan’s membership materials and 

call for details about how the plan provides 

the diabetes services, supplies, and medicines 

covered by Medicare. 

More details are available by calling 

1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) and 

requesting the free booklet Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies & Services. This 

booklet is also available at www.medicare.gov/ 

publications/pubs/pdf/11022.pdf. 

2 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

More Information about 

Medicare 

More information about Medicare is available at www.medicare.gov, the official 

U.S. Government website for people with 

Medicare. The website has a full range of 

information about Medicare including free 

publications like Medicare & You, the official 

Government handbook about Medicare, and 

Medicare Basics—A Guide for Families and 

Friends of People with Medicare. Through the 

Medicare website, people can also 

•	 find out if they are eligible for Medicare 

and when they can enroll 

•	 learn about their Medicare health plan 

options 

•	 find out what Medicare covers 

•	 find a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan 

•	 compare Medicare health plan options 

in their area 

•	 find a doctor who participates in 


Medicare
 

•	 get information about the quality of 

care provided by nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, and dialysis 

facilities 

Calling 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) 

is another way to get help with Medicare 

questions, order free publications, and more. 

Help is available 24 hours a day, every day, 

and is available in English, Spanish, and 

other languages. TTY users should call 

1–877–486–2048. 

Medicare information can also be obtained 

from the following agencies or programs: 

•	 Each state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that 

provides free health insurance counseling. A state’s SHIP may have a unique 

name. SHIP counselors can help people 

choose a Medicare health plan or a 

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. The 

phone number for the SHIP in each 

state is available by calling Medicare or 

visiting www.medicare.gov and selecting “Find Helpful Phone Numbers and 

Websites” under “Search Tools.” 

•	 The Social Security Administration can 

provide information about eligibility 

for Medicare. People can contact the 

agency at 1–800–772–1213, visit its website at www.socialsecurity.gov, or check 

with their local Social Security office to 

learn if they are eligible for Medicare. 

•	 State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) 

offices in each state can provide information about help for people with 

Medicare who have limited income and 

resources. The phone number for each 

state’s Medicaid office can be obtained 

by visiting www.medicare.gov or calling 

Medicare. 

People who enroll in Medicare can register for MyMedicare.gov, a secure online 

service, and use the site to access their 

personal Medicare information at any 

time. People can view their claims, order 

forms and publications, and see a description of covered preventive services. 

3 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

 

Help for People with Medicare 

Who Have Limited Income and 

Resources 

People who have Medicare and have limited 

income and resources may qualify for help 

paying for some health care and prescription drug costs from one of the following 

programs: 

•	 Extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage. Those who 

meet certain income requirements may 

qualify for extra help from Medicare 

to pay prescription drug costs. People 

can apply for this help by calling Social 

Security; visiting www.socialsecurity.gov 

to apply online; visiting their local Social 

Security office; or by contacting their 

State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) 

office. Each state’s SHIP can provide 

information and answer questions about 

this program. 

•	 State pharmacy assistance programs 

(SPAPs). Several states have SPAPs that 

help certain people pay for prescription 

drugs. Each SPAP makes its own rules 

about how to provide drug coverage to 

its members. Information about each 

state’s SPAP can be obtained by calling 

Medicare or the state’s SHIP. 

•	 Medicaid programs for people with 

Medicare. State Medicaid programs 

help pay medical costs for some people 

with Medicare who have limited income 

and resources. People who qualify for 

both Medicare and Medicaid may get 

coverage for services that aren’t fully 

covered by Medicare, such as nursing 

home and home health care. States also 

have programs called Medicare Savings 

Programs that pay Medicare premiums 

and, in some cases, may also pay Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles and 

coinsurance. More information is available at www.medicare.gov. The phone 

number for the State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office for each state 

can be obtained by calling Medicare. 

Each state’s SHIP can also provide 

more information. 

Medicaid 

Medicaid, also called Medical Assistance, is a 

joint federal and state government program 

that helps pay medical costs for some people 

with limited income and resources. Medicaid programs and income limits for Medicaid 

vary from state to state. The State Medical 

Assistance (Medicaid) office can help people 

find out whether they qualify for Medicaid 

or provide more information about Medicaid programs. To contact a state Medicaid 

office, people can 

•	 search for Medicaid information for a 

state at www.GovBenefits.gov 

•	 visit www.medicare.gov and select “Find 

Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites” under “Search Tools,” or call 

1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) 

and say “Medicaid” 

•	 check the government pages of the 

phone book for the local department of 

human services or department of social 

services, which can provide the needed 

information 

4 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

State Children’s Health 

Insurance Program (SCHIP) 

SCHIP is a federal and state government 

partnership to expand health coverage 

to uninsured children from families with 

income that is too low to afford private or 

employer-sponsored health insurance but 

too high to qualify for Medicaid. The free 

or low-cost coverage is available to eligible 

children younger than 19. 

SCHIP provides an extensive package of 

benefits including doctor visits, hospital care, 

and more. Information about the program is 

available at www.insurekidsnow.gov or by calling 1–877–KIDS–NOW (1–877–543–7669). 

Callers to the toll-free, confidential hotline 

are automatically connected to their state’s 

program. 

Health Insurance for Those 

Not Eligible for Medicare or 

Medicaid 

People who are not eligible for Medicare or 

Medicaid may be able to purchase private 

health insurance. Many insurers consider 

diabetes that has already been diagnosed a 

pre-existing condition, so finding coverage 

may be difficult for people with diabetes. 

Insurance companies often have a specific 

waiting period during which they do not 

cover diabetes-related expenses for new 

enrollees, although they will cover other 

medical expenses that arise during this time. 

Certain state and federal laws may help. 

Many states now require insurance companies to cover diabetes supplies and education. The Health Insurance Portability and 

Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed by 

Congress in 1996, limits insurance companies from denying coverage because of a 

pre-existing condition. Information about 

HIPAA is available at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/ 

health-plans/portability.htm. 

More information about these laws is available from each state’s insurance regulatory 

office. Some state offices may be called 

the state insurance department or commission. This office can also help identify 

an insurance company that offers individual coverage. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website, 

www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm, provides 

a membership list with contact information 

and a link to the website for each state’s 

insurance regulatory office. 

The Georgetown University Health Policy 

Institute offers consumer guides on health 

insurance topics, including guides for each 

state about getting and keeping health 

insurance. The guides are available at 

www.healthinsuranceinfo.net. 

Health Insurance after 

Leaving a Job 

When leaving a job, a person may be able to 

continue the group health insurance provided by the employer for up to 18 months 

under a federal law called the Consolidated 

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or 

COBRA. People pay more for group health 

insurance through COBRA than they did as 

employees, but group coverage is cheaper 

than individual coverage. People who have 

a disability before becoming eligible for 

COBRA or who are determined by the 

Social Security Administration to be disabled 

within the first 60 days of COBRA coverage 

may be able to extend COBRA coverage an 

additional 11 months, for up to 29 months 

of coverage. COBRA may also cover young 

5 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

people who were insured under a parent’s 

policy but have reached the age limit and are 

trying to obtain their own insurance. 

More information is available by calling the U.S. 

Department of Labor at 1–866–4–USA–DOL 

(1–866–487–2365) or visiting www.dol.gov/dol/ 

topic/health-plans/cobra.htm. 

If a person doesn’t qualify for coverage or if 

COBRA coverage has expired, other options 

may be available: 

•	 Some states require employers to offer 

conversion policies, in which people stay 

with their insurance company but buy 

individual coverage. 

•	 Some professional and alumni organizations offer group coverage for members. 

•	 Most states have a high-risk health 

insurance pool or other means for 

covering people otherwise unable to 

get health insurance. Information 

about high-risk pools is available at 

www.nahu.org/consumer/hrpguide.cfm. 

•	 Some insurance companies also offer 


stopgap policies designed for people 


who are between jobs. 


Each state insurance regulatory office can 

provide more information about these 

and other options. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website, 

www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm, provides 

a membership list with contact information 

and a link to the website for each state’s 

insurance regulatory office. Information 

about consumer health plans is also available at the U.S. Department of Labor’s 

website at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/ 

consumerinfhealth.htm. 

Health Care Services 

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a 

service of the Health Resources and Services 

Administration, offers primary and preventive health care to medically underserved 

populations through community health 

centers. For people with no insurance, fees 

for care are based on family size and income. 

Information about local health centers is 

available by calling 1–888–ASK–HRSA 

(1–888–275–4772) and asking for a directory, or by visiting the Bureau’s website at 

www.bphc.hrsa.gov. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

runs hospitals and clinics that serve veterans 

who have service-related health problems 

or who simply need financial aid. Veterans 

who would like to find out more about VA 

health care can call 1–800–827–1000 or visit 

www1.va.gov/health. 

Many local governments have public health 

departments that can help people who need 

medical care. The local county or city government’s health and human services office 

can provide further information. 

Hospital Care 

People who are uninsured and need hospital 

care may be able to get help from a program 

known as the Hill-Burton Act. Although 

the program originally provided hospitals 

with federal grants for modernization, today 

it provides free or reduced-fee medical 

services to people with low incomes. The 

Department of Health and Human Services 

administers the program. More information is available by calling 1–800–638–0742 

(1–800–492–0359 in Maryland) or visiting 

www.hrsa.gov/hillburton. 

6 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

Kidney Disease: 

Resources for Dialysis 

and Transplantation 

Kidney failure, also called end-stage renal 

disease, is a complication of diabetes. People 

of any age with kidney failure can get Medicare Part A—hospital insurance—if they 

meet certain criteria. To qualify for Medicare 

on the basis of kidney failure, a person must 

❐	 need regular dialysis 

or 

❐	 have had a kidney transplant 

and must 

❐	 have worked long enough—or be the 

dependent child or spouse of someone 

who has worked long enough—under 

Social Security, the Railroad Retirement 

Board, or as a government employee 

or 

❐	 be receiving—or be the spouse or dependent child of a person who is receiving— 

Social Security, Railroad Retirement, 

or Office of Personnel Management 

benefits 

People with Medicare Part A can also get 

Medicare Part B. Enrolling in Part B is 

optional. However, a person needs to have 

both Part A and Part B for Medicare to cover 

certain dialysis and kidney transplant services. 

Those who don’t qualify for Medicare may be 

able to get help from their state to pay for their 

dialysis treatments. More information about 

dialysis and transplantation is available by 

•	 calling Social Security at 1–800–772–1213 

or visiting www.socialsecurity.gov for 

information about the required amount 

of time needed under Social Security, 

the Railroad Retirement Board, or as a 

government employee to be eligible for 

Medicare based on kidney failure 

•	 visiting www.medicare.gov to read or 

download the booklet Medicare Coverage 

of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant 

Services or calling 1–800–MEDICARE 

(1–800–633–4227) to request a 

free copy; TTY users should call 

1–877–486–2048 

•	 reading the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse’s publication Financial Help for 

Treatment of Kidney Failure, available at 

www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov or by calling 

1–800–891–5390 

•	 visiting Medicare’s “Dialysis Facility 

Compare” at www.medicare.gov/dialysis 

for important information about chronic 

kidney disease and dialysis, including 

choosing a dialysis facility 

Information about financing an organ 

transplant is available from the following 

organization: 

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) 

P.O. Box 2484 

Richmond, VA 23218 

Phone: 1–888–894–6361 or 804–782–4800 

Fax: 804–782–4817 

Internet: www.unos.org 

7	 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

Prescription Drugs and 

Medical Supplies 

Health care providers may be able to assist 

people who need help paying for their medicines and supplies by directing them to local 

programs or even providing free samples. 

A free nylon filament—similar to a bristle 

on a hairbrush—is available to check feet for 

nerve damage. The filament, with instructions for use, can be obtained by calling 

1–888–ASK–HRSA (1–888–275–4772) or by 

accessing www.hrsa.gov/leap. 

Prescription drug coverage for those eligible 

for Medicare is available through Medicare’s Prescription Drug Plans and many 

Medicare Advantage Plans. More information is available at the Medicare website at 

www.medicare.gov. 

Drug companies that sell insulin or diabetes 

medications usually have patient assistance 

programs. Such programs are available only 

through a physician. The Pharmaceutical 

Research and Manufacturers of America and 

its member companies sponsor an interactive 

website with information about drug assistance programs at www.PPARx.org. 

Also, because programs for the homeless 

sometimes provide aid, people can contact a 

local shelter for more information about how 

to obtain free medications and medical supplies. The number of the nearest shelter may 

be listed in the phone book under Human 

Service Organizations or Social Service 

Organizations. 

Prosthetic Care 

People who have had an amputation may be 

concerned about paying their rehabilitation 

expenses. The following organizations provide financial assistance or information about 

locating financial resources for people who 

need prosthetic care: 

Amputee Coalition of America 

900 East Hill Avenue, Suite 205 

Knoxville, TN 37915–2566 

Phone: 1–888–AMP–KNOW (1–888–267–5669) 

Fax: 865–525–7917 

Internet: www.amputee-coalition.org 

Easter Seals 

230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800 

Chicago, IL 60606 

Phone: 1–800–221–6827 

Fax: 312–726–1494 

Internet: www.easterseals.com 

8 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

Classroom Services 

Public agencies and other organizations 

that provide services and assistance, such as 

providing special equipment, to children with 

diabetes and other disabilities and to their 

families are listed on the State Resource 

Sheets published by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities 

(NICHCY). Each state’s resource sheet lists 

the names and addresses of agencies in the 

state. The free resource sheets are available 

at www.nichcy.org/states.htm or by contacting 

NICHCY 

P.O. Box 1492 

Washington, DC 20013 

Phone: 1–800–695–0285 

Fax: 202–884–8441 

Email: nichcy@aed.org 

Internet: www.nichcy.org 

College-aged students who have diabetesrelated disabilities may be faced not only 

with the costs of tuition, but also with additional expenses generally not incurred by 

other students. These costs may include special equipment and disability-related medical 

expenses not covered by insurance. Some 

special equipment and support services may 

be available at the educational institution, 

through community organizations, through 

the state vocational rehabilitation agency, 

or through specific disability organizations. 

The names and addresses of these and other 

agencies are also listed in the State Resource 

Sheets available from the NICHCY. 

The HEATH Resource Center, an online 

clearinghouse on postsecondary education 

for individuals with disabilities, offers information about sources of financial aid and 

the education of students with a disability. 

Contact the clearinghouse at 

The George Washington University 

HEATH Resource Center 

2134 G Street NW 

Washington, DC 20052–0001 

Phone: 202–973–0904 

Fax: 202–994–3365 

Email: AskHEATH@gwu.edu 

Internet: www.heath.gwu.edu 

Technological Assistance 

Assistive technology, which can help people 

with disabilities function more effectively at 

home, at work, and in the community, can 

include computers, adaptive equipment, 

wheelchairs, bathroom modifications, and 

medical or corrective services. The following 

organizations provide information, awareness, and training in the use of technology to 

aid people with disabilities: 

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) 

1304 Southpoint Boulevard, Suite 240 

Petaluma, CA 94954 

Phone: 707–778–3011 

Fax: 707–765–2080 

Email: ATAinfo@ATAccess.org 

Internet: www.ATAccess.org 

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) 

1660 L Street NW, Suite 700 

Washington, DC 20036 

Phone: 1–800–872–5827 or 202–776–0406 

Fax: 202–776–0414 

Email: info@ucp.org 

Internet: www.ucp.org/ucp_channelsub. 

cfm/1/14/86 

9 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

Food and Nutrition 

Assistance for Women with 

Diabetes or Gestational 

Diabetes 

Food, nutrition education, and access to 

health care services are available through the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Women, 

Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The 

WIC program provides assistance to women 

during pregnancy or the period following 

childbirth and to infants and children up to 

age 5. Applicants must meet residential, 

financial need, and nutrition risk criteria to 

be eligible for assistance. Having diabetes or 

gestational diabetes is considered a medically based nutrition risk and would qualify 

a woman for assistance through the WIC 

program if she meets the financial need 

requirements and has lived in a particular 

state the required amount of time. The WIC 

website provides a page of contact information for each state and Indian tribe. Contact 

the WIC’s national headquarters at 

Supplemental Food Programs Division 

Food and Nutrition Service—USDA 

3101 Park Center Drive 

Alexandria, VA 22302 

Phone: 703–305–2746 

Fax: 703–305–2196 

Email: wichq-web@fns.usda.gov 

Internet: www.fns.usda.gov/wic 

Social Security Disability 

Insurance (SSDI) and 

Supplemental Security 

Income (SSI) Benefits 

The Social Security Administration pays 

disability benefits through the SSDI and SSI 

programs. These benefits are not the same 

as Social Security benefits. To receive SSDI 

benefits, a person must be unable to work 

and must have earned the required number 

of work credits. SSI is a monthly amount 

paid to people with limited income and 

resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 

or older and meet certain other conditions. 

More information is available by calling Social Security at 1–800–772–1213 

or contacting the local Social Security 

office for more information. TTY users 

should call 1–800–325–0778. A “Benefit 

Eligibility Screening Tool” is available at 

www.socialsecurity.gov to check whether a 

person is eligible for benefits. 

10 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Resources 

Local resources such as the following charitable groups may offer financial help for some 

of the many expenses related to diabetes: 

•	 Lions Clubs International can help with 

vision care. Visit www.lionsclubs.org. 

•	 Rotary International clubs provide 


humanitarian and educational assistance. Visit www.rotary.org.
 

•	 Elks clubs provide charitable activities 

that benefit youth and veterans. Visit 

www.elks.org. 

•	 Shriners of North America offer free 

treatment for children at Shriners hospitals throughout the country. Visit 

www.shrinershq.org. 

•	 Kiwanis International clubs conduct 

service projects to help children and 

communities. Visit www.kiwanis.org. 

In many areas, nonprofit or special-interest 

groups such as those listed above can sometimes provide financial assistance or help 

with fundraising. Religious organizations 

also may offer assistance. In addition, some 

local governments may have special trusts set 

up to help people in need. The local library 

or local city or county government’s health 

and human services office may provide more 

information about such groups. 

The National Diabetes Information 

Clearinghouse (NDIC) gathered information from various agencies and 

organizations to try to provide the most 

comprehensive and helpful information possible. Changes may occur in 

these programs from the time this fact 

sheet is published. Please contact each 

organization directly for the most up-todate information. The NDIC welcomes 

corrections and updates to the information in this fact sheet. Updates should be 

sent to ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov. 

Acknowledgments 

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse 

are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK 

scientists and outside experts. The Medicare 

information in this publication was reviewed 

by subject matter experts at the Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

You may also find additional information about this 


topic by
 

•	 searching the NIDDK Reference Collection at 

www.catalog.niddk.nih.gov/resources 

•	 visiting MedlinePlus at www.medlineplus.gov 

This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included 

the most current information available. For updates 

or for questions about any medications, contact 

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free 

at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) or visit 

www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more 

information. 

11 Financial Help for Diabetes Care 
 

 

 

National Diabetes Education 

Program 

1 Diabetes Way 

Bethesda, MD 20814–9692 

Phone: 1–888–693–NDEP (1–888–693–6337) 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov 

Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov 

The National Diabetes Education Program 

is a federally funded program sponsored by 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services’ National Institutes of Health and the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

and includes over 200 partners at the federal, 

state, and local levels, working together to 

reduce the morbidity and mortality associated 

with diabetes. 

National Diabetes 

Information Clearinghouse 

1 Information Way 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov 

Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov 

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of the National 

Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 

Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is 

part of the National Institutes of Health of 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services. Established in 1978, the Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes 

to people with diabetes and to their families, 

health care professionals, and the public. 

The NDIC answers inquiries, develops and 

distributes publications, and works closely 

with professional and patient organizations 

and Government agencies to coordinate 

resources about diabetes. 

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse 

encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate and 

distribute as many copies as desired. 

This fact sheet is also available at 

www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH Publication No. 09–4638 

May 2009