Effects on Patients

     Diabetic patients are physically and mentally the most affected compared to their families. These patients must make the life altering decisions regarding diet, exercise, weight, and insulin. Insulin helps maintain the proper blood sugar at the appropriate level. Since the insulin prices are at the highest they have ever been, it is getting harder and harder for these patients to be able to afford the proper items for their care.

     Almost half of the diabetics in the US cannot afford to live with diabetes. If a diabetic cannot afford their equipment or medication, they begin to limit what they use. In the event it becomes too expensive, they will limit their insulin, or stop using certain equipment. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, stated that one in four United States diabetics are forced to ration or even skip doses of insulin due to the high prices that they cannot afford. This can be dangerous and life-threaten (Sprunt). Diabetics have to make life or death decisions, and in some cases, they are forced to limit, or even eliminate, the amount of insulin they give themselves. This is unhealthy and terrible for a diabetic to do because they are putting themselves in dangerous situations. They could have low or high blood glucose levels, or even diabetic ketoacidosis, DKA, which is a buildup of acids in the blood (Trief 25). It can happen when the blood sugar is too high for too long. It is a serious complication of diabetes and could be life-threatening, but it usually takes many hours to become that serious. The diabetic can treat it and prevent it by giving their body insulin, but if insulin is almost impossible to afford, then this could lead to death.

Image: Health Line