Purple Hearts Takes On Affordable Insulin

The romantic drama “Purple Hearts,” streaming on Netflix, stars Sofia Carson as Cassie, a struggling singer-songwriter living with type 1 diabetes. She has to ration her insulin while working numerous jobs.

Her lack of access to healthcare sparks a desire to marry someone in the military to get quality health insurance. If that plotline seems a stretch, you’re probably not a fan of 90 Day Fiancé.

Once Cassie meets and marries a Marine, she quickly attains insulin, an insulin pump, and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This whirlwind romance also includes lightning-fast medical care.

Although “Purple Hearts” is a break-out hit with over more than 150 million viewing hours, some people have scorned the depiction of the lack of access to affordable insulin. To their credit, the actors and writers consulted with Laura Pavlakovich, founder of You’re Just My Type, and Dr. Michael Metzger, a medical consultant, to create an accurate depiction.

“I think we were all truly blown away by how all-encompassing having type 1 diabetes is”, Sofia Carson said in an interview with Beyond Type 1.

Earlier this year, Congress passed a law that would cap the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for the millions of Americans who rely on the drug.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would take effect in 2023, would limit cost-sharing under private health insurance for a month’s supply of certain insulin products at $35, or 25 percent of a plan’s negotiated price, whichever is less.

Barry Manilow’s classic hit, “I Made It Through The Rain” sparks real-life confessions about overcoming challenges related to diabetes self-care on this episode of Divabetic’s monthly podcast.

Hear how Alyson Williams, who is living with type 2 diabetes, made a triumphant return to the stage after her near-death experience from COVID and “The Rollercoaster Ride Of Diabetes” blogger, FatCatAnna, who is living with type 1 diabetes, opens up about her attempted suicide and managing diabetes in a mental hospital.

Additionally, we’re sharing an honest, no-filter look at the daily grind of living with diabetes and practical ways to help you pivot and stay positive. We encourage others with diabetes to live life to the fullest and apply Barry Manilow’s attitude to their daily lives.

“I believe that we are who we choose to be. Nobody is going to come and save you. You’ve got to save yourself. Nobody is going to give you anything. You’ve got to go and fight for it,” says the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy award-winning music icon with 50 Top 40 hits, 12 #1 singles, and more than 85 million albums.

Guests include The First Lady of Def Jam Alyson Williams, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, diabetes advocate, blogger, and mentor FatCatAnna. Music from The Essential Barry Manilow courtesy of SONY Music. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

09/14/2021

Mr. Divabetic Joins T1International’s Digital Demonstration Advocating for Affordable Insulin.

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.

04/13/202104/13/2021

High Insulin Costs Are Killing Americans

After losing his job and insurance, Jeremy Crawford, 39, struggled to afford the insulin he needed to survive. He tried using Walmart insulin (retailing for $25), but it didn’t work well.

Some politicians like to point to Walmart-price insulins and say that there are low-cost alternatives. However, Walmart insulins just don’t perform nearly as well as the more expensive insulins. Insulins are not interchangeable as some industry leaders would like us to believe. Switching insulins can negatively affect the health of people with diabetes, making blood sugar mangement more irregular and raising A1C scores.

As Jeremey got sicker, he resisted calling 911 to get the help he needed because he could not afford it. He died from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the body starts breaking down fat at a rate that is much too fast. The liver processes the fat into a fuel called ketones, which causes the blood to become acidic.

We are shedding light on the tragic consequences of rationing insulin and DKA on Divabetic’s upcoming mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril, debuting in September 2021. Our most popular podcast’s cozy mystery format allows us to reach a broader audience to raise awareness for these critical issues.

No one with diabetes should die because they can’t afford their insulin.

The Right Care Alliance (RCA) is a grassroots coalition of clinicians, patients, and community members organizing to make health care institutions accountable to communities and put patients, not profits, at the heart of health care.

LEARN MORE – GET INVOLVED

10/18/201910/18/2019

1 in 4 Americans Ration Insulin

1 in 4 Americans have rationed insulin due to prohibitively expensive costs according to Beyond Type 1‘s helpful website.

If that’s you, you’re far from alone – and it’s not your fault.

If you need insulin now!

If you are in emergency need of insulin right now, always go to the emergency room. The below resources address those struggling to afford monthly costs (CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST).

Manufacturer Discount Programs

If you take Lilly insulin (Humalog, Basaglar): the Lilly Diabetes Solutions Call Center Helpline provides personalized assistance for finding your best cost option (as long as you take Lilly insulin). Call 833-808-1234 9am to 8pm ET Monday to Friday. If you have high-deductible health insurance or are uninsured, you may be eligible for Lilly insulin at 40% discounted through BlinkHealth but this is not available if you are insured through Medicaid or Medicare. Additionally, if you are uninsured or have Medicare Part D, and meet certain income parameters you may be eligible for free insulin through LillyCares.
If you take Novo Nordisk insulin (Fiasp, NovoLog, NovoRapid, Levemir, Triseba): Patient Assistance Program provides free insulin to those who qualify, which is limited to those with no private insurance and who do not qualify for federal insurance programs and who are at or below 400% of the federal poverty level – with a few exceptions.

The nonprofit organization, Beyond Type 1, offers these solutions if you need help getting insurance coverage (CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST).

If insurance is not an option through your employer or you are unemployed, head to Healthcare.gov. From there you can explore health insurance and assistance options based on your state, income, and specific circumstances.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a publication called “Financial Help for Diabetes Care” explaining programs which may provide additional coverage for medical expenses for a person with diabetes. View online here.

Insure Kids Now! – Every state in the nation has a health insurance program for people under 18. This website is offered by the US Health and Human Services Department to help navigate getting insurance – or call 877-Kids-Now

Music by Destiny’s Child on October’s Diabetes Late Nite

We’re talking about the skyrocketing cost of insulin on Diabetes Late Nite with T1International’s US Advocacy Manager, Allison Bailey, Mary Ann Hodorowicz RD, MBA, CDE, Jessica Clark and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, and music from Destiny’s Child.

LISTEN NOW

Join the advocacy movement

Explore tools + actions you can take to get involved with access advocacy here.

10/25/2018

How Much Do You Know About Insulin? Part 2

How much do you know about insulin?

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic has created a new game to test one lucky listener’s ‘INSULIN IQ’ featuring a series of questions about insulin for November’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin’s rendition of ‘Teach Me Tonight’ from her Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics album courtesy of SONY Music.

Can’t wait until Wednesday, November 14th? Test your knowledge with these two ‘Teach Me Tonight Challenge’ questions (answers appear at the bottom of this blog post):

3: Which animal was insulin first tested on?

A. A cow

B. A pig

C. A dog

4: What year was insulin first used on a human?

A. 1912

B.1922

C. 1932

5: How many people are living with diabetes in the world?

A. 322 million

B. 399 million

C. 422 million

Are you concerned about the average price of insulin skyrocketing in recent years – nearly tripling between 2002 and 2013?

Join us in calling for increased transparency and more affordable insulin. More than 377,207 people have signed the American Diabetes Association’s petition to support those struggling with insulin affordability. Add your name today. CLICK HERE

Don’t miss November’s Diabetes Late Niteon Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM, EST.Divabetic will be hosting November’s Diabetes Late Nite with music by Aretha Franklin on World Diabetes Day Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM EST in celebration of World Diabetes Day.

You may be wondering why November 14th is World Diabetes Day?

November 14th is a significant date in the diabetes calendar because it marks the birthday of the man who co-discovered insulin, Sir Frederick Banting. Banting discovered insulin in 1922, alongside Charles Best. Insulin isn’t just a drug. It’s the difference between life and death for millions of people with diabetes – and it’s something they will need every day for the rest of their lives.

Guests included Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Owner of Diabetes Strong Christel Oerum, Makeup Artist & Skincare Expert Suzanne Perez, Mama Rose Marie and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach. Plus, win a copy of Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport’s newest book,

“Friendship Matters: memoir, life lessons, laughter” as part of our World Diabetes Day giveaway! TUNE IN

ANSWERS: 1). C: DOG. Canadian physician Frederick Banting and medical student Charles H. Best would be credited with discovering the hormone insulin in the pancreatic extracts of dogs. Banting and Best injected the hormone into a dog and found that it lowered high blood glucose levels to normal. 2). B: 1922. On 11 January 1922 insulin was first used in the treatment of diabetes. Insulin was discovered by Sir Frederick G Banting, Charles H Best and JJR Macleod at the University of Toronto in 1921 and it was subsequently purified by James B Collip. 3). C: 422 MILLION. According to the World Health Organization, 422 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, nearly doubling the prevalence from 4.7 percent in 1980 to 8.4 percent in 2014. In the United States alone, an estimated 29.1 million adults and children are affected.

Tag: Affordable Insulin