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.

10/21/201805/21/2020

How Much Do You Know About Insulin? on November’s Diabetes Late Nite

Divabetic will be hosting November’s Diabetes Late Nite with music by Aretha Franklin on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM EST in celebration of World Diabetes Day.

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

How much do you know about insulin?

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 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):

1. What is the most common methods of injecting insulin?

a. insulin syringe

b. insulin inhalers

c. insulin pens

2. In ancient times, doctors would test for diabetes by?

a. Check the patient’s eyes

b. Tasting the patient’s urine

c. Listening to the patient’s heart

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

Don’t miss November’s Diabetes Late Nite on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6 PM, EST with 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. TUNE IN

Answers: 1. (a.) The most common method of injecting insulin is by syringe, but there are a lot of other options available, such as insulin pens, inhalers and pumps. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s best for you. Answer 2 (b). In ancient times, doctors would test for diabetes by tasting the patient’s urine to see if it was sweet. People who tasted urine to check for diabetes were called “water tasters.” Other diagnostic measures included checking to see if urine attracted ants or flies.

06/08/2017

If Transparent Pricing Works for Handbags, Then Why Can’t it Work for Health Care?

High-end retailers now flaunt their exorbitant price markups for products without experiencing dips in sales so why doesn’t our healthcare system?

According to the New York Times‘ article, ‘Revealing Costs to Make Sales’ the leather goods company, Oliver Cabell posts the cost breakdown of all its products on its website so customers can see exactly what they are playing for and how much the manufacturer is charging them on top of its cost of production.

For the record, Oliver Cabell spends $16.02 on canvas, $11.58 on leather, $5.68 on lining and 78 cents on webbing and $4.27 for the zipper.

This practice, known as transparent pricing, has been gaining hold among a select group of retailers, who say that it appeals in particular to millennials – who often want to know exactly what they’re paying for. Guess what? So do the rest of us!

I’m confident that most ‘divabetics’ would also like to know why the fashion industry’s transparent pricing isn’t available in our healthcare system especially since the costs of meds (like insulin), doctor’s visits and/or equipment keep rising.

Seriously, wouldn’t it be great to see the price tag for a treatment ahead of time and determine how much you’re willing to pay out-of-pocket before receiving care?

“Pricing transparency and stories behind the scenes help the shopper navigate the decision to pay for a more expensive product,” said Natalie Grillon, founder of Project Just, which collects ethics and sustainability date on fashion brands.

Find out What’s Behind the Rising Price Tag for Insulin

I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to know what’s behind the rising prices of insulin prices — increases that mean some people are spending as much on monthly diabetes-related expenses as their mortgage payment.

As of May 2, the list price of Humalog, a short-acting insulin, is $274.70 for a 10 ml bottle, an increase of 7.8% from what the list price had been since July 2016. On May 2, Lilly also took a 7.8% list price increase to Humulin, an older form of insulin. Novo Nordisk, which also makes a short-acting insulin, increased its prices to the drug in 2017. In February, the drugmaker raised its price to $275.58 for a 10 ml bottle, up 7.9% from what the list price had been since July 2016. In December, Novo Nordisk committed to limiting all future drug list price increases from the company to single digit percentages.

Over the last decade, the list prices of the two drugs have increased by 290%. READ MORE

Apparently most Americans want greater price transparency and would compare health care prices if given the option according to Public Agenda.

The historical opacity of health care prices is widely believed to be a major factor inhibiting the more efficient functioning of the delivery system,” according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Health economists and other experts are convinced that significant cost containment cannot occur without widespread and sustained transparency in provider prices.”

Unfortunately, ore than half of Americans say they have tried unsuccessfully to find out about the price of health care before getting care according to Public Agenda.

The vast majority of people believe that more expensive care does not equate to better care. This demonstrates the demand for transparency among consumers, and the recognition among consumers that price variation in health care is often an arbitrary divide that does not necessarily reflect quality of care.

With health premiums increasing, families have to make more educated purchasing decisions in the health marketplace to save money, especially those families with higher deductibles. But accurate price information is hard to come by considering the default price opacity in most states. The Healthcare Financial Management Association cites a recent report where the U.S. Government Accountability Office asked dozens of health care providers about their price for a knee replacement. The estimates given ranged from $33,000 to $101,000. This wide range in prices is difficult to account for, and without more comprehensive price transparency, consumers face a difficult time choosing the most cost-efficient option.

One way you can help your state government combat price opacity is by contacting your elected officials to request providers and insurance personnel to talk about pricing, as well as guiding people toward reliable price information and explaining to them how prices vary across providers. READ MORE

How to Make the Most of Your Next Doctor’s Visit

If you really want to take full advantage of your doctor visit, plan in advance. Here are two key points from One Drop will make for a very informed doctor’s visit:

Check out your blood glucose (BG) stats from for the past month before heading to the doctor. What’s your average BG level? % high, % low? How does your food intake affect these numbers? Do you have lots of high BGs (“hypers”) or lows BGs (“hypos”)? If so, are they occurring often? Are you finding trends or patterns? How severe are they? Can you feel the early signs of a low and take action before it becomes too severe? What do you eat/drink to treat them? How quickly does your body respond? When do you get the most severe highs (highest glucose levels)? Is that associated with food, medications, activity, all three, or other factors (stress, illness)? Any idea what may be causing these highs and lows?

(Pro Tip ⭐️ : if you’re taking insulin, One Drop provides the average total daily insulin and the breakdown into %basal and %bolus insulin.) What’s your average daily activity, and how does that seem to be affecting BG numbers?

Discuss your mood! A topic often overlooked at doctor’s appointments, mental health is something that should take tip-top-priority on your talking points list. How are you doing psychologically? How does diabetes affect you mentally? Are your major highs/lows taking a toll on you psychologically?

Remember, this is your time. Don’t be bashful with your questions. Come prepared, and you’ll be able to make any and all necessary changes. READ MORE

TUNE IN: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 for Diabetes Late Nite with music by Maxwell. We’re talking about Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) with musical inspiration from Maxwell. Guests include singer Alfa Anderson, Diabetic Macular Edema patient Maryanne Kass, Artist Bryce Chisholm, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring selected songs from several of several of Maxwell’s albums courtesy of SONY Music.

04/21/201704/21/2017

Test Your ‘Diabetes IQ’ with These Tricky Questions from the Easter Parade

I had a great time raising awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way at this year’s Annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York on Easter Sunday. It was the first straight year in a row that we took to the streets to educate and entertain participants.

In 2012, I filmed my very first YouTube at the Easter Parade. Now, I have my own ‘Mr. Divabetic’ YouTube channel (!) featuring videos from various parades and festivals in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC.

How much do you know about Diabetes Health & Wellness? Test your ‘Diabetes IQ’ with 13 Mr. Divabetic Questions from 2017 Easter Parade:

1. What was Mary Tyler Moore’s character name on the Dick Van Dyke Show?

A. Laura Petrie

B. Laura Ingalls

C. Laura Spencer

2. Which food product doesn’t contain gluten?

A. fritos

B. soy sauce

C. Velveeta

3. People with diabetes are at low risk for developing glaucoma?

A. True

B. False

4. Which food product contains the most sodium?

A. hot dog

B. cornflakes (1 cup)

C. soy sauce (1 tablespoon)

5. Once eye disease starts, it cannot be stopped

A. True

B. False

6. Diabetic eye disease usually has early warning signs

A. True

B. False

7. If you have Diabetic Retinopathy …

A. You may notice changes in your vision right away

B. You may never notice any changes in your vision

C. You may not notice change in your vision at first

8. Diabetes-related eye diseases include:

A. Diabetic Retinopathy

B. Cataract

C. Glaucoma

D. All of the above

9. Which what organ in the body produces insulin?

A. Liver

B. Spleen

C. Pancreas

10. How many times does a heart beat in a lifetime?

A. 2.5 Million

B. 2.5 Billion

C. 2.5 Trillion

11. Shoes with heels should will be no more than…

A. 1 inch high

B. 1 1/2 inches high

C. 2 inches high

D. 2 1/2 inches high

12. One avocado contains how many servings?

A. 1 Serving

B. 3 Servings

C. 5 Servings

13. How much blood do your kidneys filter every day?

A. 1 Gallon

B. 50 Quarts

C. 200 Quarts

To mark this historic milestone at Divabetic, hat designer Joe Murray created a special ‘Pineapple Top Hat’ for me to top off my outfit. (Check out my new 18 Carot Fruit Suit tuxedo jacket!)

Don’t let the parade pass you by! Check out our Facebook Live Videos (Divabetic) to catch all the sights and sounds from the Easter Parade with guests Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, the Salad Bar Superstar, Aida Romaine and more!

ANSWERS: 1. A. Laura Petrie. Actress Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just before ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ launched. If Mary could take it on with a smile, so can we! 2. A. Fritos 3. B. FALSE: Glaucoma is almost twice as likely to occur in people with diabetes than in those without the disease. 4. C. Soy Sauce. One tablespoon typically contains about 1,000 milligrams of sodium—nearly half of the recommended limit for sodium intake in an entire day—soy sauce is indeed a high-sodium food. 5. B. FALSE 6.B. FALSE 7. C. You may not notice change in your vision at first 8. D. All of the above 9. C. Pancreas. Your pancreas maintains your body’s blood glucose (sugar) balance. Primary hormones of the pancreas include insulin and glucagon, and both regulate blood glucose levels. 10. B. 2.5 Billion 11. B. 1 1/2 inches high according to the Dr. Michele Summers Colon – ’The Holistic Podiatrist’ 12. C. 5 Servings 13. C. 200 Quarts

04/04/2017

High Costs of Insulin Kills US Man with Type 1 Diabetes

Recently I came across a disturbing Facebook post on diabetes advocate, Mike Lawson‘s page about a man desperate for insulin who created a Go-Fund-Me page to be able to afford it.

Shane Patrick Boyle who was living with type 1 diabetes was a gifted writer and graphic artist who created a Go-Fund-Me campaign to pay for insulin

Unfortunately Shane passed on March 18th, and according to his Go-Fund-Me Page, “Shane died because he was trying to stretch out his life saving insulin to make it last longer.”

Shane moved back home to help take care of his sick mom, Judith (she died on March 11th,) and his healthcare was put on the line because of the move.

Shane lost his Rx benefits, was between doctors and needed insulin for his type 1 diabetes. Shane was waiting for his ACA status to be approved and was stretching out his insulin until he had enough money to pay for his insulin, and see a doctor to prescribe prescriptions.

Around the world people with diabetes are dying because they don’t have access to life saving insulin.

According to the New York Times, a lawsuit was filed in January accusing three makers of insulin of conspiring to drive up the prices of their lifesaving drugs, harming patients who were being asked to pay for a growing share of their drug bills.

The article states that the price of insulin has skyrocketed in recent years, with the three manufacturers — Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly — raising the list prices of their products in near lock step, prompting outcry from patient groups and doctors who have pointed out that the rising prices appear to have little to do with increased production costs.

The lawsuit cites several examples of patients with diabetes who, unable to afford their insulin treatments, which can cost up to $900 a month, have resorted to injecting themselves with expired insulin or starving themselves to control their blood sugar. Some patients, the lawsuit said, intentionally allowed themselves to slip into diabetic ketoacidosis — a blood syndrome that can be fatal — to get insulin from hospital emergency rooms.

A recent study in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that the price of insulin nearly tripled from 2002 to 2013.

Given insulin’s history, and the fact that more than one company makes it, it might seem odd that prices have been going up so dramatically.

Researchers first figured out how to manufacture insulin in animal pancreases back in the 1920s so that it could be injected into people. The doctor who developed it, Dr. Frederick Banting, won a Nobel Prize for the discovery in 1923.

Since then, there have been some big changes. In the 1970s, scientists figured out how to use recombinant DNA to manufacture real human insulin, so that it no longer had to come from animals. But in drug years, that is old, and those insulins are still in use.

The most prescribed types of insulin are called analogues, which are slight variations of human insulin that aim to help diabetics’ bodies function more closely to how they would if they were able to produce the insulin themselves.

Drug companies have a history of marginally improving drugs and then charging higher prices for the new versions even if the extra benefit is small.

Join The American Diabetes Association and sign the petition to make insulin affordable. Advocate and call your lawmakers – your voice matters, so make use it and make noise!

LISTEN NOW: Tips for Managing Your Diabetes at Night on Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Gladys Knight & The Pips. Guests include Stacey Harris aka ‘The Diabetic Pastry Chef’, Mary Ann Hodorowicz, RD, LDN, MBA, CDE, CEC, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, SleepyHead Central founder Tamara Sellman RPSGT, CCSH, Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.

01/11/201701/12/2017

Will Generic Insulin be Part of Donald Trump’s Legacy?

One of the biggest concerns facing people with diabetes is what’s will happen to their healthcare under the new Trump administration. I interviewed Mary Ann Horodowicz RD, LDN, MBA, CDE, CECabout this topic on January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.

Mary Ann hinted that a possible silver lining to any repeals and replacement of Obamacare might be generic insulin. Most people agreed that a medication as old as insulin, which has been available since 1921, ought to have at least one generic brand. But there is not.

In their report, published March 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine, Riggs and his colleague Dr. Jeremy Greene describe how the unique development of insulin allowed pharmaceutical companies to continually improve the medication while extending patents for decades. Generic drugs cannot be made until a patent on a brand-name drug expires.

Could President Elect Trump change that?

In the midst of Time Magazine’s 6,000-word “Person of the Year” profile of Donald Trump, the president-elect said, “I’m going to bring down drug prices…I don’t like what has happened with drug prices.”

Donald Trump has stated repeatedly that he strongly wants to cut through the red tape at the FDA. If this happens it could mean streamlining pipeline for diabetes drug development and other life-saying medications given the fact that there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval.

The Trump administration also wants to remove barriers that hamper the importation of cheaper drugs that are made abroad. To make this work, the FDA would have to be expanded to have the capacity to investigate foreign drug-making facilities more than it already does. This idea also would require Congressional approval, and that would again most likely require Democrats to side with Trump to pass.

Hear more of my interview with Mary Ann Horodowicz by clicking HERE

Diabetes Late Nite inspired by Alicia Keys. Guests include Mary Ann Hodorowicz RD, CDE, Lori Shemek PhD, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach and Mama Rose Marie.