Sometimes I forget that all of the information I read in the Type 1 Facebook groups I’m in isn’t known by the general public. So, let’s talk insulin.
Before we get into the cost specifics, let’s get a little background knowledge about insulin. First of all, what exactly is insulin? In a non-diabetic, insulin is made in the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Because a person with Type 1 Diabetes has a broken pancreas, so to speak, he is unable to make his own insulin. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the T1’s body. At some point, the body can no longer handle that much sugar, gets really sick and begins to shut down, which is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In other words, people with Type 1 Diabetes MUST have insulin to live!
Different people need different types of insulin. There is long-lasting insulin and fast-acting insulin. There are different brands and different companies. However, all insulin has increased in cost in a huge way over the past five years.
Check out the price increases above. 168%… 169%… 325%… THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT!?
This greedy problem seems to just be affecting us in the United States. So it’s obvious where the problem lies- with the U.S. companies that made the insulin. Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly have the power to decrease these crazy high costs, but they instead choose to increase little by little. It’s all about winning the game of who can make the most money.
Dr. Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin, is probably rolling over in his grave. After his miraculous discovery, he sold the entire formula for insulin for $3.00 (Canadian) to help each and every person who was dying from diabetes. He wasn’t caught up in making money. He wanted to help people. These big pharma companies sure could learn something from him.
Help us reach these pharmaceutical companies and letting them know that these lives aren’t here so they can make a quick buck or hundred. Sign the petition to end this ridiculousness.
Smells Like Insulin 
Two of the 3 companies are not US based.
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Thanks for he clarification. My point was the costs are higher in the US than other countries.
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We must bring down these costs in our US there is no other reason, than greed. My 7 yr old grandson has Diabetes 1 , no one on either side of the families as we know of had this. What else is going on in our world of food that may also cause this ?As my grandson said to me after a fun day at the zoo. ” I wish things were the same as before. ” I wish at my age now that I may carry his burden , so he can live a Happy carefree life. He also has Celiace Disease. So now my daughter has a double wammy, all glueten free food, Lord help all the children in need of medications. because of the high cost. But , Lord help the people that increase their salaries do to this high cost .
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