Nicole Smith Holt said “the poor people get the old less effective hard to manage insulin whereas the people who can afford it they get top of the line insulin”- his son died when he couldn't afford his insulin.This is the sad truth for many people all over the world, more specifically in the United States.Diabetes has become an epidemic in the USA affecting nearly 10% of the population or about 29 million people says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 8 million people are undiagnosed Type 1 Diabetes (juvenile diabetes) can occur in people, children or adults.

Diabetes is a  disease that disables the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin, this can lead to abnormal elevated levels in glucose. There a 2 different types of diabetes. Type one is an autoimmune disease that most commonly occurs in adolescents, this type requires “synthetic” insulin given through injections.

Diabetes is a very serious disease it can be life threatening. Most people don't have access to insulin. This “synthetic insulin” is a replacement for the natural insulin that your body is not able to produce. With your body not being able to produce insulin over the years many companies have created replacement insulin unfortunately you have to take 2 kinds of insulin. A long lasting insulin that stabilizes your blood sugars for a 24 hour period,and a fast acting insulin that covers any kind of blood glucose correction or intaking any carbohydrates. Long lasting insulin can be extremely expensive. For example  “A levemir 10 mL vial can cost up to $368 dollars per vial”. On average a bottle of long lasting insulin can cost up to “$196.90 a month” but in reality on cost “$0.40 cents per unit” to manufacture according to Brenita Lee, MPH, who is on a Research Team at GoodRx. That is not including fast acting insulin; the average cost per month is $155.45per 3 mL-10mL vial when it only takes $0.49 to manufacture it. So why are we paying upwards of 300% more. Sadly we don't know why insulin is so expensive. People point fingers at the insurance companies,the “middlemen”, and even the manufacturers. We don't know why is it so expensive and we might not know for a long time.

The most important issue is people not being able to buy this life dependable insulin. Its price even with insurance coverage is still difficult to get the money to buy it.With the cost of insulin and all the diabetic supplies you are looking at spending 300-400 a month. Which is outrages. If  diabetic doesn't get insulin it is very dangerous.Skipping doses can lead to kidney and liver nerve damage over time ketosis, confusion, dehydration, frequent urination, weak muscles these are all signs of bad diabetes.

A lot of people ration their insulin. This is where they won’t give the proper dose of insulin and  watch what they eat. They may even cut out all carbs to prevent from using insulin to cover food. Most people who can’t afford insulin go past the expiration date. All insulin vials are only good for a month after opening them. A lot of people will extend it to 2 months meaning it is 1 month expired, that means the insulin is less potent the longer it is expired. During this time period diabetics can endure high blood glucose, with large amounts of high blood glucose over a period of time this can lead to serious medical complications and possibly death. Some people also goes as far as turning to the black market. According to NBC news “many families are turning to the black market because it is significantly cheaper.”

A mother Alison got her daughter a year supply of insulin for less than half the retail price for six months. This is also not recommended and it can be contaminated or laced but it's sad to see people go to these lengths. Insurance companies,middle men, and manufacture see this yet continue to do nothing about it. Many people are dying because the don’t have the financial needs to purchase insulin month to month. Something needs to be down about this issue because people can be so helpless and they don't have a voice to speak out on this topic.I am here to give them a voice. To bring awareness to these outrages prices.