By Mike Hoskins
On a recent sunny afternoon in Southeast Michigan, I witnessed ugly proof of the extreme circumstances many in our Diabetes Community are being forced into thanks to the escalating cost of diabetes medications and supplies.
It all happened in a parking lot outside my endocrinologist’s office during a "Patient Appreciation Day." It was meant to be a simple summertime gesture, allowing us to step outside the clinical setting and casually interact with the healthcare staff and other patients.
Paying It Forward
Suddenly, I noticed an older woman approaching my doctor, nearly in tears. When I joined them, she described being unable to afford her insulin—a $700 cost for a single month’s supply. Because she was on Medicare, she had been turned away from standard financial assistance programs.
Sidestepping a Broken Healthcare System
It’s outrageous, especially in such a wealthy country, and shows just how broken our system is. Those who make this life-sustaining medication are choosing corporate profits over human access.
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