More than a million Americans ration insulin due to the high cost of the drug

[Jilly_in_VA]

Insulin rights activists and those who live with diabetes are calling for meaningful action to address the high costs of insulin in the United States as a new study shows the widespread habit of rationing the life-saving medicine.

Diabetes is currently the seventh-leading cause of death in the US, though a 2017 study suggests the number of Americans dying from diabetes is much higher due to diabetes frequently being overlooked in causes of death. Humans require insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate glucose in the blood, to live.

A study published on 18 October in the Annals of Internal Medicine by researchers at Harvard Medical School, the City University of New York’s Hunter College and Public Citizen, found that 1.3 million Americans rationed insulin due to the high costs of insulin in 2021. The staggering number represents an estimated 16.5% of the US population with diabetes.

The study found insulin rationing was most commonly reported by those without health insurance coverage and individuals under the age of 65 not eligible for Medicare. Black insulin users were more likely to report rationing insulin, at 23.2%.

Angela Lautner of Kentucky has lived with type 1 diabetes for 22 years.

“I’ve been on Eli Lilly’s Humalog insulin since 2000, nothing has changed in that vial, not how I use it, nothing has changed except for the price,” said Lautner. “The instant, the very instant, that I can’t afford insulin, death is literally staring me in the face and I would die within 24 hours or be in the emergency room on my way out without insulin, every single human would.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/01/insulin-diabetes-drugs-rationing

[Warpy]

1. That's one huge reason I want Republicans kicked out of the Senate

Everybody has a relative somewhere who must use insulin, whichever type of diabetic they are.

The main reason is women's physical autonomy. The Republicans must be defeated on that one, if not now in 2024. That's the only major choice we can still make.

[IbogaProject]

2. Campaign finance issue

There are several ways Big Pharma have orchestrated this. One they are heavy media advertisers, which alters news coverage about them. Two they are big campaign donors, and are embedded in both parties, ensuring the FDA is a revolving door with Big Pharma. That 'regulatory capture' leads to onerous rules about generic insulin, requiring it to pass stricter approval than chemical drugs.
It's outrageous how much 10ML of insulin has gone up. it was under $50/bottle as recently as 2000. Now it's over $200, some forms are $300. For the exact same stuff that costs less than $6/bottle to make.

Fyi, if you know anyone struggling with insulin access, Walmart, who I loathe otherwise, has very cheep insulin and other diabetic supplies.

One other trick is taking Melatonin helps the body use insulin better, and over a few months can lower the requirements substantially. I've been taking 40% less than typical for my bodyweight and control level since I went on Melatonin back in 1995.

[Warpy]

3. Walmart is a mixed bag, that's for certain

but being as huge as they are has conferred a few advantages when it comes to their pharmacy, they're big enough to demand manufacturers bid on having their generic drugs sold exclusively. They saved my butt the last time the bottom dropped out and I needed cheaper drugs and they came through like champs. They were also the first big retailer to raise their entry level wage, I think this was in about 2003.

So they're not completely pernicious, they've done a few decent things. Being as huge as they are is what keeps the price of their insulin below that of other retailers and pharmacies.

[IbogaProject]

4. Sam Walton himself mandated it

It's one of their corporate philosophies. They also allow unless locally banned overnight RV & Truck parking.

[Warpy]

5. Yes, I always saw campers there in the warmer months

I don't know where they go in winter, especially during the Xmas season, but I hope it's warmer there. It gets damned cold up in the mountains. Before we got curbside recycling, they also had a recycling center.

Like I said, a mixed bag.