Saturday, October 19, 2019

Affordability of Insulin


Affordability of Insulin

Medicalnewstoday.com

After individuals eat a meal, their blood glucose levels begin to rise. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, allows the body to use the glucose from food for energy and storage within cells. Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are too high in the body due to the lack or disfunction of insulin. Type 1 diabetes is when the body is unable to make insulin, while Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not use insulin well. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2015, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes. Constantly having too much glucose in the bloodstream can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves as well as increase the chances for heart disease, stroke, and even death.
Back in the late 1980’s, when certain insulin brands first came on the market, the price for a one-month supply of insulin was around $20. In 2019, a vial of insulin is estimated to be around $300 per month. Diabetics that can’t afford health insurance have to pay out of pocket for these expensive vials of insulin. These individuals are also likely to not make enough to sustain their living expenses as well as health expenses. As a result, these Americans are at a higher risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, which is an accumulation of toxic ketones due to high blood sugar. This condition is very serious and can be life-threatening.
Insulin has become so expensive because the production of this drug is manufactured by three big insulin producers: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. These companies dominate more than 90% of the world insulin market. These companies hold a monopoly over countries that use one of them for the majority of their insulin since they can set the price as they desire. This is very unethical as some Americans are dying from not being able to afford insulin. The United States needs to prioritize this epidemic as rates of diabetes are only increasing in our country. The government needs to make a change so that insulin can become more affordable for everyone.

Posted by “Lauren Shone” (6)


13 comments:

  1. I am surprised by how much insulin has increased in price. From what I remember, the induced production of insulin in bacteria seemed like such a simple procedure. I wonder, for a procedure such as this, if a company can get much variety in the quality of its biological product.
    An aside question: are supplements of insulin used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetics? I understand the reasoning behind supplemental treatment for type 1 but I am unsure as to the treatment of type 2 diabetics; type 2 diabetes concerns a physiological issue with not using insulin well (as you mentioned) not a lack of insulin.

    -David Frykenberg

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    1. For type 2 diabetes, someone may need to change their eating and exercise habits in order to control their blood sugar levels. The pancreatic beta cells in the body are still able to produce insulin; however, the body's cells become "resistant" to it and cells cannot efficiently take in glucose (although absorption still happens). Therefore, changing lifestyle habit's can decrease high glucose levels.
      -Lauren Shone

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  2. I understand your frustration . The vast majority of diabetics are of low income families. I think it's very unethical to make a life sustaining drug so impossible to buy.

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  3. I understand your frustration . The vast majority of diabetics are of low income families. I think it's very unethical to make a life sustaining drug so impossible to buy.
    - Fredjah Desmezeaux

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  4. I really liked this post as it is something that I've been frustrated with for years. Even with most insurance companies, insulin price is still not fully covered even though it is a necessity to the lives of those who suffer from diabetes. From what I have researched before, making of insulin is not that expensive for companies so I agree with your point that these three major companies are making a monopoly out of the insulin industry. It is very frustrating since diabetes is something that affects a large portion of people in America. Hopefully over the next few years something can be done about this and insulin can become more available to those who need it.
    -Sophie DeRepentigny

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  5. This is a case where the government should be subsidizing the companies that produce insulin. Because of the way America is set up, fast food is the easiest option for lower class people to get a filling meal. Fruit and vegetable costs meanwhile can end up being more expensive than fast food, therefore there is not much of an option for many in this country. Ultimately the government is to blame for not creating an environment that supports locally grown food. The governments of Spain, Italy, and other developed nations, have been able to successfully quell obesity from becoming an issue, unlike the U.S. Because the government can be largely to blame for standing by idly and turning a blind eye to the issue. It is responsible for making sure that its citizens are not dying because they cannot access the medicine required to treat obesity.

    -Isaac Collibee

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  6. It's actually insane to see how expensive insulin has become. Why should people be forced to pay so much for something that they need to live? It should still be $20 and nowhere close to $300. I remember reading about how a man had to cut his insulin dose in half so that if would last longer since he didn't have the money to keep buying it. The man ended up dying cause of it which is unfair and sad. It's awful how companies care more about profiting and benefiting themselves at the expense of others. Do more people need to die before changes are made? People of higher power need to step up and help.
    -Matt Cayer

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  7. I know a few people personally that have to deal with the insanely high prices of insulin. The three big companies see it as a money making scheme rather than providing affordable medicine for those who truly cannot live without it. These companies have taken full advantage of an incurable disease that impacts so many lives and it is heartbreaking to see people close to skip meals in order to afford insulin which further worsens the situation.
    -Brianna Luciani

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  8. I am aware about the rocketing prices of insulin and the growing issue of people not being able to afford it. I am curious to know the reason why prices are now expensive to americans struggling with this disease. If I can recall correctly, recently (within the past 2 years or so), this increase in insulin cost is relatively a new projecting issue. I am curious to know what was the change that allowed monopolizing companies to increase their product costs. Are these large companies utilizing the threatening demand of people who have the disease? What caused the switch in prices?
    -Elise Babula

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  9. As someone with a parent that has to stockpile insulin I know how tough it can be to fight with insurance to get it fully covered. It seems like every month there is a new issue with the VA and my fathers medication. Not only is it unethical that these companies essentially have a monopoly over the world's supply of insulin but the mark-up on this crucial medication is nothing more than a disgusting business tactic. Many individuals are dying since they can not afford health insurance nor can they afford the medication alone. Despite this, there seems to be no current fix for this issue. The government has to stand up at some point to these corporations as this current situation is putting unnecessary stress on those who already have a difficult life.

    -James Levangie

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  10. This post was close to home for me. My sister has type 1 diabetes and the cost of insulin has been an ongoing worry in my home since she was diagnosed. With health insurance, it can be covered. But health insurance is not concrete and can change based on income, job, etc. $300 for a vile of insulin is a reality for many people. And usually they need two different types (long and fast acting), which means $600 per month. These are filled every 1-3 months meaning people potentially need to spend $7200 per year just to stay alive. There are also a lot of stories of people dying or being hospitalized because they were trying to ration their insulin; or were not purchasing it at all. I don’t think that sits right with anyone.

    Posted by Meagan Gustafson

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  11. I have a close family member who struggles with this. We try to help him as much as we can because it is actually crazy how much it cost. i read an article a few months back that talked about Americans going to Canada to get insulin because of how cheap it is over there. There should be something that can be done for people that don't have health insurance because their life can depend on this. i wonder if there is anything being done in order to be able to lower the prices or be able to provide for people that cannot afford it.

    Posted by Pam Jimenez

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    1. People in the United States are trying to pass The Insulin Reduction Act within the senate. This Act would give incentives for manufacturers to lower their list prices for insulin. There is no laws that have been passed to reduce prices as of today.
      -Lauren Shone

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