The Astronomical Price of Insulin Hurts American Families
1060 sats \ 8 comments \ @oliverweiss 31 Mar charts
Some data including the US price is taken from this article, so some prices in the chart are from 2018. Insulin is even more expensive these days based on more recent data
Insulin is seven to 10 times more expensive in the U.S. compared with other countries around the world. The same vial of insulin that cost $21 in the U.S. in 1996 now costs upward of $250. But it takes only an estimated $2 to $4 to produce a vial of insulin.
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100 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined 31 Mar
I know there are people with genetic disorders who need insulin, regardless of how healthy of a lifestyle they live. However, the vast majority of insulin is used to treat Adult Onset Diabetes, which is not only preventable in almost every case, but also curable in almost every case.
If people would eat their beans and greens, instead of refined carbs on carbs on carbs, demand for insulin would plummet along with the price.
Also, this industry is so full of corrupt protectionism that new entrants can't just start producing insulin to meet demand.
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190 sats \ 1 reply \ @elvismercury 31 Mar
However, the vast majority of insulin is used to treat Adult Onset Diabetes, which is not only preventable in almost every case
This is true and under-recognized.
but also curable in almost every case
This part isn't true -- after long enough of having T2D, actual pancreatic capacity dwindles due to beta-cell burnout. In some cases (e.g., fasting therapies aggressive enough to trigger stem cell production) you can recover pancreatic capacity, but this is rare in practice.
In a normal patient, however, it takes years to get to this level of damage, so your point is true in spirit, at least.
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27 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 31 Mar
Thanks for the correction.
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19 sats \ 0 replies \ @Signal312 1 Apr
Not that you'd hear about being able to cure diabetes from the American Diabetes Association - which is heavily funded by big pharma. Or as I like to call it "big harma".
But I wouldn't do more beans and greens. Consider a carnivore diet. Or a low carb diet. Lots of information out there.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Coinsreporter 1 Apr
Phew! I didn't know that. Insulin in India hardy cost $2/vial. So, that's why they say US is the richest country.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @riberet19 1 Apr
maybe they get the vial from countries like India or others where it is much cheaper and sell them at those prices in the US, think wrong and you will be right, $250 is too much.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 31 Mar
Is getting insulin over at Canada or even at Cuba still an option?
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @BitcoinIsTheFuture 31 Mar
This is not true GDP or a thriving society of abundance!
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