1.3 million Americans with diabetes have been skipping doses, taking less insulin than they needed, and even delaying purchasing it all together. This problem has resulted in high costs and a shortage of insulin in many parts of the country. In addition, drug companies have continued to increase the price of insulin, leaving many diabetics unable to afford it.
New research shows that more than 1.3 million people with diabetes have rationed their insulin in the last year - 16.5% of the entire adult population. Rationing can lead to serious health consequences, including increased costs. Rationing occurs when people with diabetes delay or forgo purchasing insulin because it is too expensive. The study analyzed data from the CDC's 2021 National Health Interview Survey to find out why so many people with diabetes have started to ration their insulin.
The study found that more than 1.3 million people in the US have rationed insulin in the past year, primarily due to cost. This figure is higher among people with no health insurance, compared to those with private insurance. It also found that insulin rationing increased the burdens of living with diabetes by 50%.
The prices of insulin have skyrocketed in recent years, making it difficult for many people to afford it. The most commonly prescribed forms of insulin are 10 times more expensive in the U.S. than in other developed nations. This high cost is driving some Type 1 diabetics to ration their insulin, which can be life threatening. However, there are new solutions to the rationing problem. For one, states could produce their own insulin, which would reduce the cost of insulin in the U.S. By providing cheaper insulin to diabetics, states would be able to reduce insulin rationing. Several states, including California, have already announced plans to produce insulin.
Another way that Americans with diabetes ration their insulin is by delaying the purchase or taking less insulin than is needed. Rationing is a common practice among younger adults and is more common among those with type 1 diabetes. Those with diabetes who lack health insurance and those with low-income are most likely to ration their insulin.
Fortunately, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August, which will eventually reduce the cost of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries. Despite this new legislation, millions of Americans still face the problem of rationing insulin. The new law will only affect Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and won't affect privately-purchased insulin.
As insulin costs rise, more people with diabetes are struggling to afford their medications. This puts them at risk of complications like diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a life-threatening complication of diabetes and can result in the death of the sufferer.
These costs are exacerbated by the fact that many of these Americans with T1D have limited access to insulin. In addition, people with the disease are forced to pay a higher price for brand-name insulin. Another factor that leads to high insulin prices is that people with T1D are often uninsured and underinsured.
Life transitions can pose additional barriers to insulin access. For those with diabetes, these barriers can be financial, institutional, and life-or-death. As a result, many participants take strategic actions to ensure adequate insulin supplies, obtain more insulin, and/or secure long-term access. However, many of these actions have negative health and relationship impacts.
The study examined a 15-year period of experiences that covered the cost of insulin over this time. This allowed the authors to analyze the short and long-term implications of the insulin price increase. The study found that rationing of insulin occurred in about 20% of younger adults.
The price of insulin increased threefold from 2002 to 2013, making it less affordable for the majority of people with diabetes. However, rationing of insulin is especially common among those with type 1 diabetes and those without health insurance. The study also found that rationing insulin is more common among people younger than 65 and in middle-class households, as compared to African-Americans and older adults.
Life transitions affect access to insulin for a million Americans with diabetes. For example, a young man who grew up on Supplemental Security Income was denied it as an adult because he became uninsured and unable to afford insulin. When his health insurance ran out, his parents had to cut down on expenses and ration insulin to keep him alive. Despite the fact that his diabetes progressed, he was unable to afford more. He died in front of his mother.
Young adults with T1D face unique challenges when transitioning from pediatric care to adult care. It is critical that young adults with T1D have resources that will help them manage this transition while maintaining their insulin access. A young adult with T1D may be especially prone to mental health issues during this transitional time.
A new study suggests that many strategies can be used to reduce barriers to insulin access for adults with T1D. These measures could be adopted as part of the healthcare system or implemented as a policy change. For example, some states have passed legislations that cap out-of-pocket insulin costs for people with T1D, while some manufacturers have announced significant price cuts on analogs. These efforts may provide a temporary safety net. However, these solutions do not solve the long-term issue of unaffordability of insulin.
Because of the cost of insulin, many Type 1 diabetic patients are forced to ration their insulin. When they do not receive enough insulin, they suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition in which the body is incapable of metabolizing glucose properly. This condition can cause coma, or even death. This is why Lutgen is advocating for reduced prices for insulin.
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