How to Help Your Patients Find Tresiba in Stock: A Provider's Guide

As Tresiba (insulin degludec) supply constraints continue into 2026, the burden of finding medication increasingly falls on patients — who often lack the knowledge, time, or resources to navigate pharmacy shortages effectively. For providers, proactively equipping patients with the right tools and information can prevent dangerous insulin gaps that lead to hospitalizations, ER visits, and downstream complications.

This guide gives you the practical tools, talking points, and clinical workflows to help your patients find Tresiba — or transition safely if they can't.

Why Providers Need to Take an Active Role

Patients who are told Tresiba is unavailable at their usual pharmacy often don't know what to do next. Many assume the shortage is nationwide and don't think to try other pharmacies. Some attempt to ration their current supply. Others stop their insulin entirely — a potentially life-threatening decision. A 2023 CDC analysis found that roughly 1 in 4 insulin users reported cost-related rationing; shortage-related rationing is a parallel risk. When your practice builds medication access into its workflow, you directly reduce that risk.

Tool 1: medfinder for Providers

medfinder for Providers (medfinder.com/providers) allows care teams to check pharmacy availability for a patient's specific medication and location. Instead of asking patients to call around on their own, you or your medical assistant can initiate a search directly and direct the patient to pharmacies with stock. This is especially valuable for high-risk patients — those with type 1 diabetes or hypoglycemia unawareness — where a gap in basal insulin coverage is particularly dangerous.

Tool 2: NovoCare Patient Support

NovoCare (1-888-668-6444 | NovoCare.com) is Novo Nordisk's patient support hub. In addition to savings programs, NovoCare can sometimes assist in identifying pharmacies with current Tresiba stock. Give patients this number directly, or have your medical assistant make the call on their behalf. NovoCare can also connect patients with the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (free Tresiba for eligible uninsured patients) and the Insulin Value Program ($35/month).

Workflow: The 5-Step Prescription Strategy During a Shortage

Build this into your prescription-writing workflow for any Tresiba patient:

Check formulary status before prescribing. Ask: "What kind of insurance do you have? Let's check that Tresiba is covered before we send it." If Tresiba requires prior authorization, file it proactively — don't let the patient find out at the pharmacy counter.

Write for both concentrations. If both U-100 and U-200 are clinically appropriate, write the prescription to allow either: "Insulin Degludec (Tresiba) — dispense U-100 or U-200 as available." This avoids the patient getting stranded because one concentration is out.

Include a standing alternative prescription. Write a second prescription for Toujeo or Lantus with the note: "Dispense if Tresiba is unavailable." Have this ready to send electronically at any time.

Hand the patient a savings card. Keep Tresiba savings cards in exam rooms or at checkout. The Novo Nordisk Insulin Value Program ($35/month for up to 35 mL) is available for both insured and uninsured patients. This is especially important during a shortage when patients may need to fill at a different pharmacy than usual.

Document access concerns. Note in the medical record when a patient reports difficulty finding Tresiba. If you switch medications for shortage or cost reasons, document why. This creates a paper trail for insurance appeals and ensures the next provider understands the context.

Patient-Facing Scripts for Your Front Desk or MA Team

When a patient calls reporting Tresiba is unavailable at their pharmacy, give your staff this script:

"Thank you for calling. Tresiba is in short supply at many pharmacies right now, but it is still available in many locations. A few things to try: First, go to medfinder.com — it can check multiple pharmacies near you at once and find which ones have it in stock. Second, ask your pharmacy to check for both the U-100 and U-200 concentrations — one may be in stock even if the other isn't. If you still can't find it, call us back and we can help you with a prescription for an alternative insulin that will work just as well while the shortage continues."

Managing High-Risk Patients During the Shortage

Prioritize proactive outreach for high-risk patients: those with type 1 diabetes, hypoglycemia unawareness, unstable glycemic control, or a history of DKA. Consider:

Pre-emptively sending an alternative insulin prescription for type 1 patients who would be at highest risk if they ran out

Adding a refill reminder to charts at 45 days (vs. the standard 30) for Tresiba patients during shortage periods

Providing starter samples of alternative basal insulins to high-risk patients as a bridge supply

For the full clinical shortage briefing including dose conversion tables, see: Tresiba Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026.