Staying ahead of mail delays that could affect your diabetes medical supplies

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty around the availability of diabetes medical supplies was a top concern for individuals living with the condition (as well as their families). In such an unprecedented situation, many people were panicked to hear mail delays were slowing the delivery of essential medical items.

As the first couple weeks of the pandemic stretched on into months, there were twists and turns — but ultimately, mail delivery has since evened out to be somewhat more reliable than how it looked in March 2020. Even though the mail is a factor largely outside of your control, there are a number of ways to take hold of related concerns and stay organized around the factors within your domain.

Here are some useful insights and tips around staying ahead of mail delays (and receiving your diabetes medical supplies on time).

What's happening with the mail system

At the beginning of the pandemic, it felt like the world slowed to a grinding halt. With more people staying home and less of a global workforce available to keep everything moving, mail delays naturally began to occur. Then, at some point during the ensuing months, decisions made by the postmaster general and federal government complicated mail delivery, The Guardian reported. These actions affected countless individuals and families across the country who depend on speedy, steady mail service to get their life-sustaining medications and supplies.

While there are still delays due to coronavirus precautions, personnel restrictions, and the holiday season, the mail thankfully seems to have resumed a more reliable cadence.

Experiencing the stress that comes from not knowing if your insulin will arrive in time isn't something anyone wants to confront — especially if they have no control over the situation. And it certainly isn't something they want to experience multiple times. Thankfully, by taking a few proactive measures, you can regain confidence in ordering your diabetes testing equipment and insulin delivery supplies, and rest assured they'll arrive at your door when you need them to.

What you can do to combat mail delays

Without the ability to summon vital packages at the snap of your fingers, you'll have to think more realistically about how to give yourself the best chance of coordinating their delivery successfully. Keep these points in mind when planning for the road ahead:

• Stay organized. Keep your medications and supplies organized in first-to-expire order and in such a manner that you can clearly tell when you're running low on any particular item(s). If you have questions about whether your suppliers are anticipating delays, reach out in advance to see if there's anything they can do to assist you. You can even use your calendar or phone reminders to check in on supplies ahead of fill dates.

• Order refills on time. Try not to throw off your refill schedule by pushing off your monthly or quarterly orders. Anticipate when you'll be running out of refills so the paperwork between your doctor's office, insurance company, and pharmacy won't cause any additional delay in receiving your packages on time. An easy way to do this is to sign up for the Edgepark ContinueCare program.

• Keep an eye out for changes (and adapt as necessary). If you notice that you're going through insulin or other supplies more quickly than anticipated, promptly request adjustments to your prescription amount before you run out of your limited supply.

• Be honest with your doctor. Share with your provider(s) your concerns regarding running short on insulin and other prescription items. See what solutions they may be able to provide you to ensure that you always have a safe and secure amount of the items you need to stay healthy with diabetes.

• Look into three-month supply options. If you're used to receiving your diabetes medical supplies monthly and find yourself stressed at the same time each month as you await your package's arrival, look into your options for receiving three months of supplies at a time. Some insurance companies prefer this method, so you might even save some money.

• Develop a backup plan (or two). So, you've done everything on this list and something still goes awry — what then? This is when a backup plan comes in handy. Give some thought to who you could contact to get assistance in a situation where your supplies haven't arrived. In addition to your closest friends, your physician, pharmacist, or insurance company should be able to help, as should diabetes community organizations, local leaders, or Edgepark customer service representatives.

Ultimately, planning ahead is key to avoiding future mail delays or other supply chain disruptions. Many people say they "hope for the best but plan for the worst." While thinking about worst-case scenarios may seem like a strange exercise, it's often one of the best ways to troubleshoot potential issues (or avoid problems altogether)!

Plan now to avoid problems later

Postal slowdowns are just one of the many challenges people with diabetes have faced since the start of the pandemic. Whether or not the mail is delayed (again), there are always possible roadblocks in accessing diabetes medical supplies. Sometimes you do the best you can and there's still a barrier to access — but thinking ahead will get you as close as possible to a clear path.

The work you do to anticipate and strategize for these potential disruptions will pay off now and later. After all, your diabetes medical supplies are vitally important, and the peace of mind you can enjoy from thinking ahead is priceless.

Curious to learn of other tips and tricks to mastering diabetes management in your everyday life? Check out articles on Health Insights for more valuable guidance and ideas.