Frequently Asked Questions

Mutual Aid Diabetes is a group of diabetics dedicated to caring for the community by connecting community members in need with medication, insulin, supplies, and healthcare. We are 100% volunteer.

Mutual aid is a way for a community to collectively care for those most marginalized and vulnerable to harm. It's an anti-capitalist response to artificial scarcity created by the state/government(s.) Mutual aid involves the voluntary exchange of resources and knowledge, without access barriers like means testing. Mutual aid groups are not charities. Instead, there's an anarchist emphasis on avoiding hierarchies that create a divide between those asking for help and those helping. By creating a mutual aid network we are building a more sustainable way for our entire community to care for those in it. 

We are 100% funded by no-strings-attached donations! 100% of our GoFundMe is redistributed to diabetics in need. Most of our Patreon funds are also redistributed directly to community members in need, but some of that money is also used to cover our operating costs. 

We don't have any partnerships with corporations. We will never take money from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or health insurance companies.

With the exception of SkinGrip and Diabetics Doing Things, companies which have donated generously to MAD on a number of occasions, most of our funding comes from individuals' small donations.

You can support our cause here. 

Sort of... MAD does not have an office or official place to store supplies -- we are an online network. If you'd like to share your extra supplies with diabetics in need, you can fill out this form and someone will contact you if the supplies are needed. Sometimes multiple people in the same area with the same supplies are contacted. If this is the case community members are connected with the first to respond.

Any diabetic (or non-diabetic reaching out on behalf of someone with diabetes) can request aid. There is no means testing: everyone who asks us for help is eligible to receive it. Depending on your unique circumstances we will have different options for assistance.

You can fill out this form to request assistance from us.

After filling out a request aid form, you will be contacted by a MAD volunteer within 24-72 hours 1 week (we are currently experiencing an increase in requests and are working through them as fast as we can.) They will contact you via text or email and try to set up a time to talk on the phone.

Depending on your unique circumstances our volunteers will offer potential solutions. If for whatever reason, something a volunteer suggests doesn't work for you, please tell them why so we can better meet your needs. Generally because every situation is so unique, the more information folks volunteer the better we're able to assist. 

In the event that no other better options exist, and with your consent, our volunteers can refer you to diabetics who share surplus supplies and medication in your area. 

Yes, in some circumstances when our volunteers (and the community member requesting aid) come to the conclusion that there are no other feasible options we dispense direct financial aid. Because our resources are so limited, our Intake volunteers work to make sure we find the lowest possible cost (sometimes by using coupons or referring folks to a 340b clinic that provides discounted insulin) for a community member's medication. If a barrier to obtaining insulin/medication is a prescription, we can sometimes dispense funds to cover a copay or online telehealth visit to obtain a prescription. 

Based on the funds we currently have available and the requests we get: for some supplies yes, and others no...
(this list is not comprehensive)

Supplies we can provide or provide direct funding for: blood glucose meter kit, test strips, syringes, pen needles, ketone strips.

Supplies we can't always provide direct funding for depending on the circumstances: GLP-1s, CGMs, insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies. If you're in need of these supplies please reach out to us anyway -- we will see what we can do. 

For the most part, unfortunately no. Our funds are limited and so we prioritize redistributing them primarily for insulin, medication, supplies, and diabetes related costs. Community members we've worked with in the past who have ongoing needs are occasionally issued small amounts of direct aid for non-diabetes related costs on a case by case basis -- pending funds being available. 

Right now we are usually unable to do custom crowdfunding posts but if you tag us we will share your requests!

Our volunteers can help you figure out what insurance you're eligible for and help you apply for things like Patient Assistance Programs. Housing is not our expertise but we try to refer community members to local mutual aid groups and resources for housing when we can. 

There's no limit to how many times you can ask for help. But, if you need reoccurring direct funding for more than three months, we will have you meet with one of our Sustainability Advisors. Instead of having community members with ongoing needs make emergency requests every month, meeting with a Sustainability Advisor allows us to plan ahead and make sure you have funding when you need it every month.