You’ll notice that in most of my posts, I have an article cited from the NY Times or another acclaimed news outlet, tonight, I have a video from Netflix. It’s Hasan Minhaj’s “Patriot Act”. I recognize that he may not have the reputation which many news outlets have, but he has highlighted one of the major issues in America, one that is nearing “National Emergency” levels.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is objectively one of the worst ways to die. When you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar will rise. Eventually your blood sugar gets so high that your blood becomes fully acidic. This causes cells to become dehydrated and leads to the complete loss of bodily functions.
Instances of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, suprisingly, are currently on the rise again here in the US.
The reason?
Drug pricing.
The price of a vile of insulin has been skyrocketing in the US. In 2001, a vile of insulin cost $35. In 2017, that same vial would cost you $234 dollars (an increase of 585%).
Two important things to point out with these numbers are:
1- A three-month supply of insulin usually consists of about 12 vials of insulin. ($2808 for a three-month supply)
2. A vial of insulin costs in-between $2.28 and $3.42 USD. That means they sell, a vial for 103x the cost of making it.
This has led many diabetics without insurance to be “priced out” of a drug that is necessary to keep them alive. These people who are being priced out turn to an option known as “insulin rationing”.
Insulin rationing is where diabetics have an extremely limited supply of insulin, and because of that, they do not have a baseline rate of insulin going (which is necessary) and they only take insulin when their blood sugar is dangerously high.
This is how Nicole, lost her son Alec.
—-Diabetic ketoacidosis is how Nicole Smith-Holt lost her son. Three days before his payday. Because he couldn’t afford his insulin.
“You have to pay the $7,600 out of pocket before your insurance is even going to kick in,” she remembers telling him. Alec decided going uninsured would be more manageable. Although there might have been cheaper alternatives for his insulin supply that Alec could have worked out with his doctor, he never made it that far.
He died less than one month after going off of his mother’s insurance. His family thinks he was rationing his insulin — using less than he needed — to try to make it last until he could afford to buy more. He died alone in his apartment three days before payday. The insulin pen he used to give himself shots was empty.—-
Alec died after 27 days of being off his parent’s insurance.
The rising prices of insulin have led 1 in 4 diabetics to openly admit to rationing insulin. Leading to a death toll of thousands in the United States alone.
Companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are price fixing in the US. Raising prices in such perfect lock step, that their is no doubt of their intent, and the results are deadly.
One quick stat: one vial of insulin in Canada is, $13 USD. And in Taiwan? $8.
The United States has an environment and economy that makes those numbers difficult. However, it is more than plausible to bring these numbers down from triple digits to double digits through price capping, which I will explain more in a new article.
We can fix this problem, it can be done easily. What are your thoughts on reducing drug prices (not just insulin) in the USA? Are companies free to do as they please? Or should the government step in and cap prices to save lives? Let me know in the comments. #T1D
Please share to raise awareness.
Daily Dose of Drake 