Marquette, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – Access to insulin medication is increasingly becoming an issue for diabetics in the Upper Peninsula and around the country for several reasons, with the main one being it’s cost.
Recently, Chris Plourde and Mike Parks, RNs and Certified Diabetes Instructors at UP Health System-Marquette joined the Sunny Morning Show to talk about this issue.
Our conversation began with an explanation about the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes.
Parks said that the price of insulin is rising at a huge rate, and the issue has been in the news about diabetics having to rationing their insulin.
Plourde said there are stories of diabetics passing way because of not being able to support the cost, as the price for insulin has nearly tripled over the past 3 years.
Currently, insulin pens cost about $700.00 for a box, which is about 5 pens, or about a 1-2 month supply.
She added that UPDON and UP Diabetes Advisory Council members are exploring options like starting a foundation to help type I with insulin costs.
They added that they are in communication with state senators for help.
Plourde said the group is looking at ideas to help reduce the cost of insulin and ways to help out U.P. diabetics.
She said that UPDON is currently looking to hear from area diabetics about their stories about issues they may have with insulin access, and that those stories can be told on the agency’s website.
LISTEN IN – Chris Plourde and Mike Parks discuss insulin affordability and access in Upper Michigan.
Insulin was discovered in 1921. What happened to generic prices? I am for profits but NOT raking people over the coals with these ridiculous prices. Drug companies that make insulin are like a monopoly. We (diabetics) have to have this medicine to live and people are dying. Other people are rationing their insulin and ending up with diabetes complications like losing a foot or leg, blindness, etc…. Colorado passed a law to cap insulin prices at a $100 per month. Even that price is TOO HIGH. This makes me mad that people are suffering or dying because of money hungry drug companies. Lots of diabetics have other health issues too. This also limits their financial obligations. In addition, many diabetics (type 2) are elderly too with fixed incomes.