Want to Donate Your Unused Diabetes Supplies?
By Eliza Skoler
By Eliza Skoler
If you’ve got unused diabetes supplies that you no longer need, don’t throw them away! Here are several easy ways that you can donate your supplies to others.
If you’ve recently switched to a new diabetes medication or device, you may have leftover diabetes supplies that you won’t need. It might feel like such a waste to throw away things like insulin vials, needles, and test strips, especially when there are many people in the world who cannot afford the diabetes devices and medication that they need to live healthy lives. The good news is that there are several ways to donate your supplies so that people who do need these items can receive them.
It’s important to know that your supplies should be unused and unopened – most donations will not be accepted if the supplies are no longer sealed, or if they have already expired.
Option 1: Contact your healthcare office
There is a chance that your care team collects unused diabetes supplies to provide to other people with diabetes. You can call and ask them about whether they are interested in your donation.
Option 2: Contact local diabetes advocacy organizations
Diabetes education centers or local branches of advocacy organizations (like ADA or JDRF) may collect diabetes supplies themselves or be able to refer you to other donation sites.
- Find American Diabetes Association (ADA) offices by state
- Find a local JDRF chapter
Option 3: Mail your supplies to a national organization
We know of four national organizations currently accepting diabetes supplies donations: Insulin for Life, Integrated Diabetes Services, CR3 Diabetes, and SafeNetRx. The most well-known and widest-reaching of the four is Insulin for Life. Learn more about each organization below.
Insulin for Life is a non-profit organization that collects diabetes supplies from people in the US for redistribution all over the world to people who otherwise cannot access the life-saving treatments that they need. You can read our 2015 profile on Insulin for Life here.
Insulin for Life accepts the following supplies donations (with specific details and requirements for each found on their site). The organization does not accept pump supplies.
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Insulin Vials
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Insulin Pens
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Insulin Cartridges
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A1C Test Kits
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KetoStix
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Glucagon
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Glucose Meters
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Glucose Strips
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Lancing Devices
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Syringes
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Pen Needles
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Lancets
To donate, click here. You’ll be able to download and print a shipping label to mail your supplies to Insulin for Life. You can find instructions on how to pack insulin (with refrigeration) here.
Integrated Diabetes Services collects many types of diabetes equipment and supplies to distribute by request to people with diabetes in the US and around the world. To donate or request supplies, email info@integrateddiabetes.com.
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Current CGM supplies
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Insulin (if local to the Philadelphia area)
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Current insulin pump supplies
CR3 Diabetes Association provides affordable diabetes devices and supplies (glucose meters, test strips, insulin pumps, and pump supplies) to people with diabetes across the world. CR3 Diabetes currently accepts:
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Medtronic insulin pumps – 630G, 670G, and 530G (models 551 and 751)
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Unexpired pump supplies
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Guardian3 sensors
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Glucose test strips
Read the specifics for donating and find mailing instructions here. If you or someone you know need help paying for diabetes supplies, you can apply for assistance through CR3 Diabetes.
SafeNetRx collects medical supplies and redistributes them to people in need living in Iowa. The organization currently only accepts sealed and unexpired lancets, syringes, needles, and glucose test trips. To donate or learn more, click here.
Thank you for taking the time to donate your old diabetes supplies to those who need it. At diaTribe we are grateful each day for the strength and generosity of the diabetes community. Given the immense need, we’re hopeful that someday soon there may be easier and more effective ways to also donate unused diabetes medications.
