(BPT) - - Managing diabetes often comes at a great financial cost. Just ask the nearly 26 million people living with the disease, many of whom pay out of pocket for treatment and self care. Whether you pay out of pocket or through your insurance co-pay system, you're not alone if you feel you're paying too much to gain control of your condition.

The American Diabetes Association recommends insulin-dependent diabetes patients test their blood sugar three times a day, which can set a patient back $1,000 a year in average costs of glucose strips alone. It's a costly scenario, but medical doctors such as John Agwunobi, president of Walmart U.S. Health and Wellness, agree it should be considered a health priority.

"In recent years, diabetes has been ranked the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is now the fastest growing disease in the country," says Agwunobi. "It is imperative that we help the millions of Americans who are struggling to manage their diabetes alleviate some of the financial burden."

The American Diabetes Association offers these tips for people with diabetes to manage the disease and lower risk for complications and expenses:

* Schedule regular visits with your doctor and dentist to stay on top of the disease; your local pharmacist also can be a great resource for diabetes-related questions.

* Eat a healthy diet that limits carbohydrates and calories.

* Exercise with 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five days per week.

* Join a local diabetes community group to stay motivated and find a support system.

To help people ease mounting expenses associated with diabetes management, Walmart has lowered prices on a wide selection of high-quality ReliOn brand treatment products, which could end up saving you or a loved one up to $800 a year on glucose strips alone. This commitment includes low prices on many essential diabetes treatment products including blood glucose monitoring meters and strips, insulin and 15 different diabetes prescriptions for only $4 each for a 30-day supply.

"We've worked closely with our suppliers and found a way to significantly reduce the cost of diabetes products for all of our customers, but this is just one example of a larger commitment to provide affordable healthcare solutions to Americans," adds Agwunobi. "We want to make sure Americans can afford to stay healthy - whether managing their diabetes or treating the common cold."

For more information, please visit http://health.walmart.com/health-tips/diabetes.