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For doctorsStruggling to afford insulin
, medical review by Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt, MD
in Diabetes, Insulin 
People who need insulin for their type 1 or type 2 diabetes are skimping on the shots because the drug has become so expensive.
A study this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more than 25% of people with diabetes who rely on insulin for blood sugar control said they skipped required doses because they could not afford the medication. Among those aged 18 to 40 whom they surveyed, it was even worse: more than 32% said they cut back on their required shots to save money.
CBS News: High cost of insulin has many diabetics cutting back on insulin
Medical Express: One in four patients say they’ve skimped on insulin because of high cost
An editorial in the same issue noted that between 2007 and 2017, the average wholesale price of the most popular insulins in the US has more than tripled in price. Between 2010 and 2015, the monthly wholesale price of Humulin, the most popular insulin, rose to nearly $1100, up from $258 for the average patient, the editorial said.
“Skimping on insulin can be rapidly deadly in people whose bodies make none of their own and can result in a life-threatening metabolic disturbance,” said the editorial, headlined: When high prices mean needless death.
We have covered aspects of the soaring cost of insulin in news stories before (here and here).
Insulin is essential for people with type 1 diabetes, whose pancreas no longer makes the hormone. We, however, have guides, patients’ success stories, news stories and videos about how a well formulated low-carb diet can help people with the condition manage their blood sugar and safely reduce their need for insulin to the lowest required dose.
Among those with type 2 diabetes, about 20% need insulin to manage their high blood sugar. However, adopting a low-carb diet has enabled some type 2 diabetics to come off insulin completely, even after decades of dependence on the drug. Check out all of our many type 2 diabetes success stories and links, such as How to reverse type 2 diabetes.
Earlier
Millions of people with diabetes won’t get the insulin they need
Some with diabetes resort to black market for affordable insulin
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In the UK we have have the national health service which provides insulin and diabetic controlling drugs free to so many people or a small prescription charge.
Maybe if the nation did not have access this so freely they may look at a alternative approach to managing this growing illness. Please note I am talking about type 2 diabetes brought on through lifestyle choice.
The nhs is also on its knees trying to provide care!
Unfortunatly, it's a common opinion to blame the person.
More likely, it's hormonal imbalance coupled with following the guidelines of a lowfat highcarb diet that is causing insuline resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes type 2. Not exactly their own lifestyle choice!
Insulin, epinephrine and many other drugs are old enough that they’re almost cheap as water to manufacture but the companies rework, repackage them and slap a huge price increase on them.