Free Sharps Container From Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly offers an easy application to request a FREE sharps container. The application includes a simple yes or no question before you fill out the form. I cannot confirm whether the request will be approved or not. My daughter is a type 1 diabetic, and I requested a container. I will update this post if the container arrives.

Please be responsible with your used sharps. It is illegal to dispose of your sharps in the garbage in several states and may come with a hefty fine when caught disposing sharps improperly. You can research resources in your area to find a safe drop off location. Some locations do require a fee to dispose of your sharps for you.

Disclaimer: None of the website links within this post are affiliate links. They are for informational purposes only. Readers should do their own due diligence prior to using any of the information or products contained within the links. I am not responsible for any information, safety, financial, activities or otherwise, contained within those websites or products. 

Are you a digital nomad?

Hello! I hope you are all doing well. It has certainly been a while since I've posted, and I wanted to touch base with everyone. I hope everyone is making it with the rise of inflation, gasoline prices, and housing difficulties. It is amazing how different things have become for the world after Covid-19.

The time has come for us to find a new path towards our future. Our current living situation has run its course. We've been having this discussion for quite some time now. I've been moving most of our belongings to a storage unit for a few weeks now. I am truly grateful for the time we were given, but we must part ways in the near future. This is also important for the mental health for everyone involved. We are exploring various options for our upcoming journey.

 It is said that one should create multiple plans just in case one doesn't pan out. We begin with plan A, and we move on through the alphabet. At times, we need to circle back to the beginning of the alphabet when things get complicated. Complications can arise due to a multitude of reasons. It doesn't necessarily mean that you are doing anything wrong. However, we must remember to take responsibility for ourselves when we do mess up. Everyone is prone to making mistakes in life. We can either pick ourselves up and keep pushing, or we can allow the situation to fester until it becomes unbearable. From personal experience, we have made multiple mistakes in life. We've learned from some, but we have repeated a few of them. 

You know the saying, "one step forward, another step back?" This has sort of been our motto over the years, but we are trying to change that into something more positive. We don't want to just survive anymore. We want to start living! Life is just too short. Our heart and mind is in the right place, but we have to make it happen. That can only happen if we put in the effort. It will take courage, discipline, sacrifice, and continuous planning. My family needs to be a team and work together. It can be difficult to break a cycle that has been repeated over several years, but I am optimistic that we can.

This brings me to the question, are you a digital nomad? What made you decide to become one? I'd love to hear your experiences, tips, advice, etc. I have spent countless hours reading blogs and articles. I have also researched affordable and/or free camping locations to boondock, but I'd love to hear your personal experiences and reasons (if you want to share) on why you decided to take this route. 

Why am I contemplating a digital nomadic lifestyle? I'll share a tidbit of information with all of you. It is only fair since I asked you to do the same. Aside from the current living situation, we have some reasons on why this lifestyle may be beneficial for us. My husband began a new job. It should be a great job after some time. He will be out on the road for a week at a time. We could even transfer to a different location or state after a certain amount of time. In the meantime, we must stay within a certain distance of the work location until then. Why not incorporate a digital nomadic lifestyle into the mix? 

Of course, that is not the only reason. It would provide us with more wiggle room to pay off some of our debts and rebuild our credit. The housing market is difficult at the moment, and our credit is poor. It will be a challenge to come up with the substantial amount of money it would take for us to move into our own place. Not to mention the much higher cost of rent. Rental prices have skyrocketed over this past year or so. Plus, the costs of submitting multiple rental applications with the high potential of being denied solely due to our credit rating or having small pets would be especially draining on our finances. 

I want to turn this into a positive experience if we decide to go this route. As I have mentioned, I've been doing a great deal of research. I also have several pages bookmarked. I'm not oblivious to the fact that it can be down right challenging or mentally draining. This journey could possibly be one of the best decisions we've ever made. Or...it could be a total disaster. We won't know the outcome until we try. I do have personal safety in mind. I've been scouting safe locations, personal protection, hygienic facilities, and locations with good cell phone service. 

If we decide to go this route, I'd love to blog about my journey. I could share some of the ups and downs, locations, tips, photographs, videos, etc. I'd be able to go just about anywhere. I could already imagine some of the views we could wake up to. We have lived in an RV prior to this for a couple years due to the work location, but this will be a whole other ballgame. I actually sorely miss RV living, and I am looking forward to the time we will be able to save up for another one. 

Please share your nomadic lifestyle experiences with me. I'd love to hear them!

Disclaimer: None of the website links are affiliate links. They are for informational purposes only. Readers should do their own due diligence prior to using any of the information contained within the links. I am not responsible for any information, safety, financial, activities or otherwise, contained within those websites. 

Covid-19, Cost of Insulin, Type 1 Diabetes, and Medical Concerns

Please allow me to express a few thoughts that I've been struggling with. The following blog post is my personal opinion, thoughts, and/or experiences. It is not medical or professional advice. If you have any questions or doubts about any information within this blog post, please speak to your medical professional for resources and advice. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

The Covid-19 pandemic appears to be raging on. My heart goes out to all of those that have been affected by loss of your loved ones, financial burdens, mental health struggles, and other challenges. EVERYONE is facing some type of struggle. Please be kind to one another.  

I am angry, disappointed, and heartbroken. We all face struggles at some point in our lives. However, the past couple of years has brought on more challenges than some can handle. Alienation and division...people are fighting over politics, mandates, and Covid-19 vaccinations. Inflation is rising faster than wallets can be filled. Individuals are struggling with their mental and physical health. 

The pharmaceutical companies are raking in billions of dollars due to Covid-19 vaccinations and testing. This is where I must express my personal bitterness with the response to the pandemic. The government is paying for FREE Covid-19 vaccinations and testing for everyone in the United States. Please don't get me wrong. I am pleased that people are receiving assistance with testing and vaccinations if wanted/needed. I am upset that there are minimal solutions to other life-saving medical needs.

There are millions of individuals that cannot afford their medications and/or medical care. Diabetics, cancer patients, elderly care, and others are struggling. Co-pays, deductibles, and premiums are astronomical for most insurance plans. Millions of people cannot afford to purchase medical insurance and don't qualify for health insurance programs. People are having to choose between a life-saving medical procedure, medications, or other necessities. 

Did you know that most medical procedures and medications are MUCH more affordable or free in other countries? The cost of medical care and medication is presumed to be the highest in the United States. If I could cross the border over to Mexico or Canada, I could purchase my daughter's life-saving insulin for a fraction of the cost in the USA. My daughter is a newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic. She will die without insulin. She is only 20 years of age and will be on insulin for the rest of her life.

Why is insulin so expensive in this country? According to several sources found on the internet, a vial of insulin costs an average of $2.28-$6.16 to produce. Why are they charging such an astronomical price for insulin?! Did you know that many diabetics are rationing their insulin due to financial restraints? Rationing insulin can be lethal to a diabetic. Insulin and other life-saving medications should not be this expensive. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed in America. 

**Be sure to contact the pharmaceutical companies to find out about any discount program they may be offering for the uninsured and/or underinsured. Some companies may advertise discounts on their individual website. Unfortunately, some companies do not offer any publicized discounts. However, it doesn't hurt to contact them directly or speak to a medical professional for information or resources.

There is a misconception that a diabetic is the cause of their own condition. There are differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetic conditions. Type 1 diabetes is caused when their body (pancreas) does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that has no cure. There are several complications associated with this condition. 

My daughter was diagnosed over the summer when she was hospitalized for Diabetic Ketoacidosis and has experienced multiple complications due to her condition. She has already endured two surgeries to remove severe cataracts from both of her eyes, her glucose levels are difficult to stabilize, and she has other complications as well. Her emotions are also on a constant rollercoaster ride, BUT she is a fighter! I cannot tell you how proud I am of her! 

Thank you for reading my blog post about Covid-19, the cost of insulin, Type 1 Diabetes, and other concerns with healthcare. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I hope you are able to obtain the resources needed to assist you with any needs you may have. I will be sharing more content on diabetes in the coming days. 

 I welcome you to contact me with a potential 'guest post' about your personal diabetic journey. No affiliate links will be permitted. You will not be compensated for sharing a guest post on this blog, and I retain the right to refuse any content. We can discuss the details of a guest post in private.