What you'll learn
- Part B covers diabetes screenings, blood sugar monitors, test strips, continuous glucose monitors for people who qualify, a yearly diabetic eye exam, and therapeutic shoes for severe foot disease.
- A one-month supply of each Part B- or Part D-covered insulin product costs no more than $35, and no deductible applies to insulin.
- Medical nutrition therapy and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program cost nothing if you qualify.
- Most other diabetes items and services cost 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026).
If you or your spouse has diabetes, Medicare is probably paying for more of your care than you realize: the test strips, the eye exam, the class your doctor keeps mentioning. The tricky part is that diabetes coverage is split between Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (drug coverage), and the costs follow different rules.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and it also falls in the middle of Medicare's fall enrollment period. That makes it a good time to check what you're using and whether your coverage fits for 2027.
Checking for diabetes: screenings
If you're at risk, Part B covers up to 2 diabetes screenings a year, and you pay nothing if your provider accepts assignment. These are blood tests like a fasting glucose or A1C test.
You qualify if you have at least one risk factor, such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, obesity, or a history of high blood sugar. You can also qualify with two or more of these: being 65 or older, being overweight, or having a family history of diabetes. Our guide to Part B preventive care covers other free screenings.
Blood sugar monitors, strips, and CGMs
Part B treats most diabetes testing supplies as durable medical equipment (DME). That includes blood sugar monitors, test strips, and lancets. Medicare may also cover a continuous glucose monitor and its sensors if your provider orders it and you meet the conditions, such as taking insulin or having a history of low blood sugar.
For these items, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. Use a supplier that's enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment, or you could pay more. Our Part B equipment guide explains how DME rentals and suppliers work.
Insulin: the $35 cap
Where your insulin is covered depends on how you take it:
| How you take insulin | Which part covers it |
|---|---|
| Traditional insulin pump covered as DME | Part B |
| Pens or syringes | Part D (your drug plan) |
| Disposable "patch" pumps | Part D |
| Inhaled insulin | Part D |
Under Part D, the $35 limit applies to everyone who takes insulin, even people who get Extra Help. A three-month supply generally costs no more than $105. Other diabetes drugs aren't capped the same way, so check your plan's drug list and costs for 2027. Our 2027 Part D guide for Texas can help.
Eyes and feet
Diabetes can damage the eyes and feet, so Medicare covers extra checks:
- Diabetic eye exam: Once a year, Part B covers an exam for diabetic retinopathy by an eye doctor who's legally allowed to do the test in Texas. You pay 20% after the deductible, plus a copayment in a hospital outpatient setting.
- Foot care: Part B covers medically necessary foot exams and treatment. It usually doesn't cover routine foot care like trimming nails.
- Therapeutic shoes: If you have severe diabetes-related foot disease, Part B can cover one pair of custom or extra-depth shoes each calendar year, plus extra pairs of inserts. The doctor treating your diabetes must certify the need.
Free and low-cost classes
Medicare covers several programs that can help you manage or prevent diabetes:
- Diabetes self-management training: Up to 10 hours of initial training with your doctor's order, and up to 2 hours of follow-up each year after that. You pay 20% after the deductible.
- Medical nutrition therapy: If you have diabetes or kidney disease and a doctor refers you, a registered dietitian can work with you. You pay nothing if you qualify.
- Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program: If your blood sugar is in the prediabetes range and you meet the other conditions, this 16-session program costs you nothing. Classes can be in person, live online, or self-paced.
The Texas Department of State Health Services also has diabetes education materials on its website, which can be a useful companion to what your doctor tells you.
If kidney disease is part of your picture, see our guide to Medicare and dialysis in Texas.
Medicare Advantage and diabetes
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, it covers the same Part A and Part B benefits, but your costs, suppliers, and network rules may be different. Some Special Needs Plans are designed for people with certain chronic conditions and tailor their provider choices and drug lists to those needs. Check before you switch, especially during the fall annual enrollment period, which ends Dec. 7. County pages, like our guide to Medicare plans in Laredo and Webb County, show how many chronic-condition plans are offered locally.
Free help
For free, unbiased help understanding your coverage, call HICAP at 1-800-252-9240 or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). If the 20% coinsurance is hard to afford, see our guide to help paying for Part B in Texas.
Common questions
Does Medicare pay for a continuous glucose monitor?
Medicare may cover a continuous glucose monitor and supplies like sensors under Part B if you have diabetes, your provider orders it, and you meet the conditions, such as taking insulin or having a history of low blood sugar. After the Part B deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Are insulin pens covered by Part B or Part D?
Part D. Part B covers insulin only when you use it with a traditional insulin pump covered as durable medical equipment. Insulin you inject with a pen or needle, plus syringes and needles, may be covered by your Medicare drug plan. Either way, a one-month supply of each covered insulin product costs no more than $35.
Does Medicare cover routine foot care if I have diabetes?
Medicare usually doesn't cover routine foot care like nail trimming or removing calluses. Part B does cover medically necessary foot exams and treatment, and therapeutic shoes or inserts if you have diabetes and severe diabetes-related foot disease.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Diabetes screenings
- Medicare.gov: Insulin
- Medicare.gov: Blood sugar test strips
- Medicare.gov: Continuous glucose monitors
- Medicare.gov: Diabetes self-management training
- Medicare.gov: Medical nutrition therapy services
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
- Medicare.gov: Eye exams (for diabetes)
- Medicare.gov: Therapeutic shoes and inserts
- Medicare.gov: Foot care
- Medicare.gov: Special Needs Plans (SNP)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Texas DSHS: Diabetes
