The Need for Special Diabetes Program in America

Diabetes affects people of every nationality, race and age and it does not discriminate. It is a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes and it contributes to more than 230, 000 deaths each and every year. Diabetes is one of our most costly diseases in both economic and human terms. Diabetes itself counts for nearly $174 billion of our nation’s annual healthcare costs according to JDRF which is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The costs of diabetes is expected to triple in the next 25 years as well. Insulin is so very important for both people with type one and type two diabetes and without it the risk of death continuously increases. Instead of falling prices three major drug makers have continuously raised the prices on this life-saving medication. Imagine if you had to pay for the air you breathe or the water you drink, and it went from $100 a month to a $1, 000 a month in just two decades says Dr. Vikas Saini. We have to address this problem and we must do it fast because we have lives on the line. We need all entities in the insulin supply chain to know that we need transparency, affordability and access, and that no one who relies on insulin should have to wonder if they’ll be able to afford it.

We also need Congress to hold hearings to identify the reasons for the dramatic increases in insulin prices and to take action to ensure all people who need insulin have affordable access to this life saving medication. While the climb in statistics is certainly alarming, the Special Diabetes Program has made real progress. They have helped us find better ways to treat, prevent and ultimately cure type one diabetes. This program is making tremendous effort so it is important that we give it the attention that it deserves and help the program as much as we possibly can. According the American Diabetes Association we need to improve the access to insulin and make sure that everyone has a chance to live survive and thrive despite this horrid disease. We need to realize that nothing will change unless we take action so we need to support the Special Diabetes Program as much as we possibly can.

We must make a change. There are so many advances that have been made possible by the Special Diabetes Program but that is simply just the beginning. These advances have made daily life so much easier for both adults and children. They have the potential not only to improve the quality of health for individuals living with diabetes, but also reduce long-term health expenditures from costly complications. We need to attack this problem head first because without it many lives are at risk. Diabetes is affecting so many and with a constant increase in insulin prices it is clear a change must be made. We need to aid the programs that will help as much as possible. We cannot allow these numbers to increase anymore. Insulin saves and improves lives and has become a necessity for so many. The most important thing we can do is address the problems regarding the cost. We cannot lose any more lives due to this horrible disease.