Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A very interesting article about the history of insulin and specifically the cost of the life-saving stuff. I take both Humalog and Lantus and I've watched helplessly as the price gets more and more out of control.
If i didnt have insurance paying for all my diabetes related medications theres no way i could afford to be diabetic.At the moment my endocrinologist switched to a new insulin called Toujeo,its supposed to be more concentrated form of insulin,i find the stuff kinda useless and not as strong as the levemir i used to take.
I was unable to read the linked-article (pop-up said I needed to subscribe), but I have read histories of insulin before.
Before insulin was developed in the early 1920s, children that developed Type I diabetes simply died young. I had read that back then you could readily tell those with diabetes, since they would be 'walking skeletons'. Indeed, some people with diabetes literally starved to death, since they tried to keep their calorie intake so very low (400 or so per day).
Again, I could not read the article, but I have read others about how the drug companies will 'tweak' an insulin so as to keep their copyright, and quit making the earlier version (even though it was just as effective).
One thing I will give Walmart credit for, is its sale of Novolin. I buy the 70/30 insulin for $24.50 or so each. I also buy the Lantus pens, which are very expensive. I think I will switch over to the Lantus vials, which I think is less expensive (I like the pens since I used to travel quite a bit; now we do not do so as much).
Sidebar: a brother-in-law, whom weighs around 315 pounds, has struggled to control his blood sugar for years. I was always rather appalled at how few units his doctor (a family physician, not a specialist) had him on (of 70/30). I had before told him that I had long ago ignored my own doctor's original prescription, and found the number of units that worked with experimentation; I then told the doctor, whom then reflected such dosages on the prescription (of my Lantus and Novolog, since I buy the 70/30 from Walmart without a prescription).
Yesterday, said brother-in-law told me that he had finally (after years) began to experiment with his dosage of 70/30. He found that 120 units in the morning, and 120 in the evening, worked for him. That, of course, is a lot of insulin, but he is 300+ pounds, and he does a very poor job of restricting carbs (he still maintains that there is nothing wrong with drinking a quart of soda every day).
Those pens are terrific. I use Novolog. So handy to carry in my purse and don't need refrigeration after opening since I use so much. I did not know Lantus comes in pens as well. I'll look into that. My doctor encourages me to experiment with dosage within certain guidelines and I'm getting better results.
As I have said before, my wife has been a T1D for over fifty years. When we first married, she managed her disease with regular and nph insulin manufactured by Lilly if I recall correctly. Than along came these new insulins. Everyone "had" to have them. Because of health insurance she switched to humalog. Recently, we analyzed what losing our health insurance would mean to us. It would probably result in expenditures of perhaps $500 or more per month to keep using the same medicines. DW told me right than, she'd simply go back to regular and nph which we learned are still available at Walmart for a relatively cheap cost.
What has happened with insulin is nothing short of a crime. If I stuck a gun in someone's face and asked for their money, they'd send me to prison for probably ten years. These pharmaceutical companies get away with stealing from the public because of patent laws which are written for their benefit by a Congress largely bought off by political campaign contributions. Many of us are getting quite sick of this. What they do is not really voluntary because a diabetic needs insulin to live.
We need changes in patent laws that don't allow for this sort of thing. We need regulation of the prices that pharmaceutical companies sell life-saving medications for. We need more awareness from the public in general about these issues.
I agree with you 100%. However without your insurance, your costs for ALL health related services and meds would be much more than $500 a month for insulin. A minor hospitalization or surgery can wipe most folks out.
Rather related, I was just informed by my insurance company that it would no longer approve paying for Lantus unless my doctor wrote them that said Lantus was 'medically necessary'. However, the company did say that it would approve my using a new insulin called Basaglar.
Basaglar is virtually identical to Lantus, but the cost is about 20 percent less. Sounds good to me. Even with my insurance I was paying some $300 for fifteen Lantus pens. I think Basaglar is only available via pen.
As I have said before, my wife has been a T1D for over fifty years. When we first married, she managed her disease with regular and nph insulin manufactured by Lilly if I recall correctly. Than along came these new insulins. Everyone "had" to have them. Because of health insurance she switched to humalog. Recently, we analyzed what losing our health insurance would mean to us. It would probably result in expenditures of perhaps $500 or more per month to keep using the same medicines. DW told me right than, she'd simply go back to regular and nph which we learned are still available at Walmart for a relatively cheap cost.
What has happened with insulin is nothing short of a crime. If I stuck a gun in someone's face and asked for their money, they'd send me to prison for probably ten years. These pharmaceutical companies get away with stealing from the public because of patent laws which are written for their benefit by a Congress largely bought off by political campaign contributions. Many of us are getting quite sick of this. What they do is not really voluntary because a diabetic needs insulin to live.
We need changes in patent laws that don't allow for this sort of thing. We need regulation of the prices that pharmaceutical companies sell life-saving medications for. We need more awareness from the public in general about these issues.
Nope. The patent laws go back to the 1800s, many of which were codified in 1952. And back then the pharma market and use of patents was way way smaller than it is now. If you invent something new, you are entitled to a patent. If you spend 50 million dollars developing a new type of insulin analog product - why should Indian generic company No.1 be able to make and use what you spent 50 million dollars to devise from day 1 without contributing a penny?
That's the way the patent system has for at least 150yrs. It was even the same in 1700s Britain and 1300's Venice.
You are confusing two different things. As you said " Because of health insurance she switched to Humalog." So, again, whose fault is it your wife is on an expensive patented drug? The drug everyone "had" to have. Human sequence insulin is still available. Switch.
We certainly need more awareness and less knee-jerk misunderstandings and accusations.
I went from Lantus to Basaglar 2 days ago. So far similiar BG readings. My sleep is very restless these 2 nights. I'm wondering if it's a reaction to the Basaglar. Fortunately I have an Endo appt today. I have questions about switching, which is due to insurance and copays. Yes cost of insulin and supplies is a disgrace in this country. There must be countless people not being able to afford it.
I think my Endo is still going to prefer his patients take Lantus. See what happens today. I'll give a follow-up.
I went from Lantus to Basaglar 2 days ago. So far similiar BG readings. My sleep is very restless these 2 nights. I'm wondering if it's a reaction to the Basaglar. Fortunately I have an Endo appt today. I have questions about switching, which is due to insurance and copays. Yes cost of insulin and supplies is a disgrace in this country. There must be countless people not being able to afford it.
I think my Endo is still going to prefer his patients take Lantus. See what happens today. I'll give a follow-up.
So far Basaglar seems to be working for me. I've been using it for 5 days now, and readings are as good as Lantus. Actually my numbers are a little lower thru the day, especially am before breakfast.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
