Tips and Tricks that Make Taking Medications Easier

When you live with diabetes, it is common to be prescribed several different pills and/or injections. Have you ever found it hard to remember to take them on time?  Do you find it hard to follow all the instructions all the time? You’re not alone!  Missing pills or injections is common and occurs more often as more medications are prescribed.  Unfortunately, when you miss medication doses, you don’t get the same benefits.  So what can you do? Here are some tips and tricks that people have taught me over the years.

It needs to fit YOUR life, not the other way around: 

Think about what you are routinely doing at that time you need to take the medication and figure out how to fit it in. For example, thyroid medication should be taken on an empty stomach with water and then wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking other things. Ask yourself what do I do every morning? If the answer includes brushing your teeth, put the medication next to the toothbrush.  

Out of sight, out of mind:

Think about where you will be when the medication needs to be taken, then put it there if it is safe to do so. For example, some insulin needs to be taken at bedtime. In that case, put the insulin on your bedside table next to your alarm clock. When you set your alarm for the next morning, it is right there. Another example would be to put your morning pills on top of the coffee machine so when you wake up and go to make coffee, the pill bottles are staring at you as a friendly reminder.

Within arm’s reach:

Have you ever gotten to work in the morning and realized that you forgot your morning pills? Everyone has! Keep extra doses in your bag, desk, or locker – wherever it is that you might remember at a later time. When it comes to insulin, you can keep one pen of mealtime insulin at your desk, locker or lunch bag. Remember that insulin can be left out of the fridge for 30 days.

3Ps of Reminders (Phone, Paper, Places):

There are high tech and low-tech reminders that you can set. Find a solution that works for you. For example, you can use the reminder function of your phone, or you can put colorful paper notes in strategic places like a utensil drawer in the kitchen to remind you. Ask a family member to remind you to take your medication before certain activities you do together (for example, before meals).

Speak to your pharmacist:

Your local pharmacist has lots of ideas on how to help you take your medications properly. They can also pack your pills in a way to properly spread them out throughout the day to make them fit best into your life.

Remember the WHY:

Ask yourself why you are taking the medications.  Is it to improve your health?  Is it to prevent problems down the road? Is it to deal with a symptom you are experiencing?  Many people forget over time. If you are one of them, write it down or take a video of yourself explaining it and keep it somewhere safe as a reminder whenever you’re feeling less motivated to continue the treatment. 

In summary, be creative. Simple strategies can lead to better outcomes!

About the author

Alice Cheng

Alice Cheng is an endocrinologist at Trillium Health Partners and Unity Health Toronto.  She is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and co-host of the podcast series, Diabetes Care on Air.