Human insulin may be a lower-cost option for some people with diabetes

Of the estimated 23 million people in the US who have been diagnosed with diabetes, more than 30% take daily insulin injections to control their blood sugar (glucose) levels. Chances are good that someone you know has been startled by the high cost of this medication. The high price of insulin Prices for this essential medication have been rising faster than overall health care costs. From 2002 to 2013 prices tripled, doubling again from 2012 to 2016 and continuing upward since. Patients can be charged hundreds or even thousands of dollars for insulin at the pharmacy. And insulin costs can vary depending on type and amount of insulin, insurance details, and even time of year for some. According to recent news stories, people with diabetes have rationed insulin to save money, leading to illness and even death. A brief history of insulin Analogue insulins have become the first choice when patients start insulin treatment, because their action more closely matches the body’s own blood sugar patterns. Analogue varieties of insulin, introduced to the market in 1996, are designed to be slightly different from natural human insulin. Short-acting versions, such as Humalog, Novolog, or Apidra, are usually prescribed to be taken at meals, together with a once-daily, long-acting version such as Lantus, Levemir, or Tresiba. Prior to analogue insulins, most people with diabetes were treated with synthetic human insulin, identical to the body’s natural insulin, which in turn replaced o...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Diabetes Drugs and Supplements Health Source Type: blogs