In the United States, there are 1.8 million people with Type One Diabetes. This autoimmune disease leaves them completely reliant on a prescription drug called insulin. In addition, nearly 5.6 million of the 35.5 million Type 2 Diabetics in the U.S. are also reliant on some sort of insulin. On average, 5 or more of these diabetics die in America each year and over a million more ration their supplies. All due to these inaccessibility of insulin in America.
Alyssa Riggs, a Type One Diabetic of 12 years said in an interview, “I live in constant fear… That one day my insurance won’t cover insulin or supplies and my savings won’t be enough to get me through.” David Wittman said, “I’ve been Type One for nearly 50 years now and I have never had as much trouble keeping up my insulin supply as I have these last few years. The pharmacies are always out, the prescriptions don’t get sent correctly, or whatever other bull [censored] they go on about. … And I could write you a darn book on the hassle and fear that comes with switching insurance companies with T1D, let alone going without insurance at all.”
An unfortunate factor in this epidemic is a supply shortage. Due to rising numbers of Type 2 Diabetics needing some amount of insulin, specifically targeted weight loss drug production, manufacturing delays, and more, it is getting harder and harder for pharmaceutical companies to keep up with the demand for insulin across the U.S.
If you are lucky enough to not be affected by the shortage, you just may be unlucky enough to be one of the over a million Americans who currently cannot afford insulin. Major producers of insulin such as Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and more have been taking heat for years as the average price markup on insulin is around 1,000%. Many have questioned the ethics of making such profit on a drug that many require to survive. However, they have continued to keep their prices the same throughout the last few years.
A package with 5 Humalog or Novolog fast-acting insulin pens currently costs around $400 without insurance. This box would typically last a Type 1 Diabetic 15 days. Putting the total cost of insulin at $800 a month. This is 15% of the average salary here in the United States.
In an attempt to rectify this situation, both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have released generic insulins averaging only $260 a box, bringing the monthly cost down to $520. Though Lispro, Lilly’s generic brand, has the same active ingredients as its on-brand counterpart Humalog, it is made by a subsidiary rather than by Lilly itself. Seeing as it is manufactured differently, and possibly with different non-active ingredients, it is a different product entirely.
Users of Lispro and similar products report that it is not as effective as a fast-acting insulin as major names such as Humalog and Novolog.
Be it as it may, there are still over a million people here in America suffering at this very moment because they do not have proper access to insulin.
aubreyriggs.com 
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