Art saves $550 each month by getting off expensive diabetes medications with Virta

By Art, on Virta for 4 months‍

Two years ago, my primary care physician told me my blood sugars had finally crossed over into type 2 diabetes range and that I needed to start taking metformin. Honestly, the diagnosis wasn’t really a surprise. I was 60 years old, overweight, had high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. On top of that, I had a family history of type 2 diabetes, so I thought it was just a matter of time before I was diagnosed.

I didn’t like the idea of taking medication for type 2 diabetes but figured I didn’t have another option. So I did as my doctor suggested and began taking metformin. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to work as my blood sugars kept increasing. Earlier in 2021, my A1c hit a high of 7.0%, and my physician recommended adding Xigduo to see if it would help. I have great benefits through my employer, GE Appliances, but even with my insurance, the Xigduo cost me $550 per month. I hated the thought of taking on that kind of financial burden.

So I started researching for ways to improve my health but was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available. A few weeks later, I received an email from GE Appliances announcing a new partnership with a company called Virta Health. The email noted that Virta could help me lower my blood sugar, lose weight, and come off my diabetes medications. These were my exact goals, so I decided to give Virta a try. 

Virta is not a fad diet or a gimmick - it’s a real lifestyle change. And that’s the mindset I approached Virta with. My Virta health coach, Abby, has made finding the right foods for me to eat as easy as possible . For example, my regular lunch used to be a sandwich and fries. But I’ve learned how to make simple modifications like removing the bun from my sandwich and replacing the fries with coleslaw. 

Before Virta, my A1c was around 6.9% and my blood sugars averaged 130-140 mg/dl. Now, because of the plan that I created with my Virta coach, my A1c is down to 5.2% and my blood sugars are usually around 90-100 mg/dl. On top of that, I’ve lost almost 50 pounds! All my old clothes are loose and I even had to make a few new holes in my belt. Because of all of these changes, my blood pressure and cholesterol are also better than ever. 

I am also doing all of this without the Xigduo, which I am so excited about. There are so many other things I would rather be spending $550 a month on!

I had an appointment with my primary care physician the other day, and he commented on how skinny I had become, calling me the poster boy for a healthy lifestyle. A few years ago, I could never have imagined anyone saying that about me. Virta is unlike anything I have ever heard of before. One of the many great things about Virta is that it takes all the overwhelming information I had previously found and brings it together in a simple, easily understandable way.  I appreciate everything Virta has done for me. I am thankful to GE Appliances for providing us Virta and for covering the cost. It has been a great journey so far, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me.