Why does insulin cost so much to patients in the USA and around the world? Why is insulin, a widely sold drug of which most forms are now off-patent, so incredibly expensive? These are simple questions, but ones with a number of complicated answers. This post will break some of those answers down and point you in the direction further reading if you want to dive deeper. Read more
Sanofi and Novo Nordisk are celebrating the New Year with fresh price hikes on their decades-old insulin products. “Sanofi increased the price of its three main insulin brands by between 4.4 %- 5.2 % last week, while Novo Nordisk increased the price of its insulin products by just under 5% on Tuesday,” the Financial Times article said. Once again, shareholder profits will be increased on the backs of people with diabetes. Read more
Volunteering for T1International was my greatest accomplishment in 2018. It has been therapeutic in accepting my diagnosis, even if it is 7 years late. Advocating for myself and those like me is healing. Read more
Hoosiers living with Type 1 diabetes today delivered to the Indiana General Assembly a petition signed by over 500 persons demanding that the House Public Health Committee hear a bill to establish a study committee on rising prescription drug prices. The petition was delivered to House of Representatives Public Health Committee Chair Rep. Cindy Kirchofer and all of the committee members. Read more
T1International is proud and honoured to announce that Nicole Smith-Holt as accepted our invitation to serve as T1International Charity Ambassador. Read more
I am not normally an angry or bitter person, but I am a mother who will fight for her children to the end. It infuriates me to tears to think that my child, or anyone’s child, has to pay extortionate prices for a medication that keeps them alive, especially a medication that is very inexpensive to manufacture. Read more
The whole experience of the demonstration showed me that I am not alone. My voice was heard. My daughter said throughout the day that she met great people. She also networked and built relationships with others who are supporting family members or close friends with diabetes, just as she supports me, and it showed her that we are all going through this battle together. We all have voices that matter. Read more
I could not be more pleased with my experience at last year’s #insulin4all demonstration. I met so many wonderful advocates who joined me in asking for insulin pricing transparency. I now consider many of them close friends. Because of my participation I am now part of KOI#insulin4all, a grassroots volunteer advocacy group asking for insulin pricing transparency in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. What began last year as a “Should I go?” this year has become “I wouldn’t miss it!”. I invite you to join us this year in taking a stand. Read more
I certainly learned a lot buying insulin in Tijuana, but the most powerful lesson by far was that I have options, and so do other diabetics. They are not always easy, and they may take some creativity, resourcefulness, and gas money, but this is at least one more anecdotal report of an American going elsewhere for their insulin. Read more
I am not insulin dependent. My daughter Hattie has type 1 diabetes, and shares her story of using another person’s insulin. She lives with the condition day in and day out, but I – like so many others – live under the strain of the financial and emotional turmoil caused by the essential need for my family to get and afford insulin. Read more