The continuing upward spiral of prescription drug costs has consumers, insurers and government agencies trying to find more money to infuse into the lifeblood of the pharmaceutical industry. With the way we are approaching this problem, do we think the spiral will ever start to curve downward? If we see medication is the only option to treat health problems, then consumers will be caught in this whirlwind forever.

There are other alternatives to treatment for hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease, that are far cheaper and usually have little or if any, good side effects. Sure we can lower high blood pressure with diuretics (“water pills”) and other medications. So can changes in diet, exercise and relaxation.

Why take cholesterol-lowering medication when we can, instead, choose smaller portions, lower-fat food, get more exercise and try to lose a few pounds? Many people with diabetes are on multiple medications; some to help make more insulin, some to help their body use it better, and some to keep their body from making too much of its own. The same effects can be found by changes in diet, exercise, weight loss, stress management and education about diabetes. The same lifestyle changes can have benefits on multiple health problems.

If you are tired of paying exorbitant medication bills, consider asking your health care provider to refer you to a visit with a registered dietitian for nutrition therapy. Even if you have no insurance, or (like Medicare) it is not covered by your plan, several visits with a dietitian will cost you far less than one to two months of out- of-pocket prescription costs. Chances are for the investment of time for nutrition education and small changes in lifestyle on your part, you can drastically reduce your medication costs over the long run.

Bonnie A. Stone, RD, CDE

Dover-Foxcroft