
Long-term Access for People with Type 1 Diabetes
Long-term Access for People with Type 1 Diabetes
People in the USA, and throughout the rest of the world, are increasingly unable to afford the astronomical costs associated with their Type 1 diabetes. Our charity, T1International, did a survey in 2016 which showed that people in the USA are paying, on average, $571.69 per month on diabetes costs. It also showed that someone in Brazil or India might have to spend as much as 80% of their income each month to afford the costs of their diabetes.
The reasons behind this unaffordability are complex, and solutions can feel overwhelming. Not to mention, there are things that might look like solutions on the surface, which can sometimes actually be more detrimental.
For example, some of the big and powerful insulin manufacturers are supporting people with Type 1 diabetes around the globe by providing donations of insulin to communities in need. While these donations can save lives, they can also hold clinics and patients hostage. The beneficiaries of these donated essentials become completely reliant on the insulin companies to continue their generosity.
T1International has worked with several groups who explained that patients found themselves in intensely dangerous situations because a company decided that they could no longer afford to support the communities they had been helping. On other occasions, the quantity of vials of insulin donated or test strips provided was significantly reduced , even though more people were being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the area. Essentially, the insulin producer pulled the lifeline
Continue
reading