Post by ashliy on Feb 25, 2022 9:40:22 GMT
I Need Insulin to Stay Alive. It's Gradually Being Priced Out of My Reach
It happened at the supermarket a few years ago, as I stood in the checkout line: My breathing became labored and my vision blurred. My throat felt parched. I became fatigued and so irritable that I snapped at my daughter, who had accompanied me to the store. I knew what was happening: These were the effects of insulin rationing.
I had only taken half my prescribed dose of insulin and my blood sugar was spiking. I hadn't been able to pay for a prescription refill, and had taken less than a full dose of insulin, so that the supply I had could tide me over until payday. I knew I could be risking my kidneys, my eyesight, or possibly death. However, I had to pay the mortgage, keep food on the table and the electricity on.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes shortly before my 21st birthday, and I've needed seven to eight injections of insulin every day for the past 28 years. Back then, my insulin and equipment cost me about $50 a month.
But over the past decade, the price of insulin has skyrocketed. I have health insurance, but I still spend about $350 out of pocket every month to cover part of the cost of my insulin, as well as other medications and diabetes supplies that I need to stay alive.
My need for insulin has impacted every major decision in my life. Shortly after graduating from college, I had to give up my dream of working in the theater because most jobs in that profession didn't offer full health insurance benefits.
www.newsweek.com/i-need-insulin-stay-alive-its-gradually-being-priced-out-my-reach-opinion-1682064
This shouldn't be happening.
It happened at the supermarket a few years ago, as I stood in the checkout line: My breathing became labored and my vision blurred. My throat felt parched. I became fatigued and so irritable that I snapped at my daughter, who had accompanied me to the store. I knew what was happening: These were the effects of insulin rationing.
I had only taken half my prescribed dose of insulin and my blood sugar was spiking. I hadn't been able to pay for a prescription refill, and had taken less than a full dose of insulin, so that the supply I had could tide me over until payday. I knew I could be risking my kidneys, my eyesight, or possibly death. However, I had to pay the mortgage, keep food on the table and the electricity on.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes shortly before my 21st birthday, and I've needed seven to eight injections of insulin every day for the past 28 years. Back then, my insulin and equipment cost me about $50 a month.
But over the past decade, the price of insulin has skyrocketed. I have health insurance, but I still spend about $350 out of pocket every month to cover part of the cost of my insulin, as well as other medications and diabetes supplies that I need to stay alive.
My need for insulin has impacted every major decision in my life. Shortly after graduating from college, I had to give up my dream of working in the theater because most jobs in that profession didn't offer full health insurance benefits.
www.newsweek.com/i-need-insulin-stay-alive-its-gradually-being-priced-out-my-reach-opinion-1682064
This shouldn't be happening.