Mr. Divabetic is honored to participate in @T1International’s Digital Demonstration advocating for affordable insulin.

According to Health Action International/ACCISS, one in two people worldwide can’t reliably access or afford their insulin.

Insulin is a life-saving medication. Rising costs have made access to affordable insulin far more difficult for people with diabetes, especially low-income individuals, those on high deductible health plans, beneficiaries using Medicare Part B to cover insulin delivered via pump, Medicare beneficiaries in the Part D donut hole, and those who turn 26 and must transition from their parents’ insurance, to manage their diabetes and avoid unnecessary complications and hospitalizations.

What About Walmart?

Walmart’s insulin ( retailing for $72.88 per vial and $85.88 per FlexPen for people without insurance) is not the answer, it’s part of the solution.

Walmart’s over-the-counter insulins don’t perform nearly as well as the more expensive insulins, and that gap in performance can have a very negative effect on the health of people with diabetes.

Thank you to Miss Diabetes for animating Mr. Divabetic in his fruit suit.

Join T1international’s Global Advocacy Network, your local #insulin4all Chapter, or consider starting one of your own!

We’re talking with two leading doctors (an Optometrist and a Retina Specialist, and Surgeon) and two diabetes advocates about eye health, and vision loss related to diabetes with musical inspiration from TLC.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight, and you cannot tell that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently.

Guests include Sherrol Reynolds M.D. (Associate Professor and Chief of Advanced Ophthalmic Care at the Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, President of the National Optometric Association (NOA)), Rishi Singh, M.D. (Retina Specialist and Staff Surgeon at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic), Andrea Sledge, Natalie Karabel, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES. Hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

Throughout our podcast, we are featuring music from TLC’s CrazySexyCool album courtesy of SONY Music.