The old formulas you can buy OTC for $25 are more inconvenient to use, but will indeed keep you from dying. The main difference between the R insulin and Novolog/Humalog are how quickly they act. Novolog starts lowering your glucose in about 60 minutes while the R takes 2 hours. Dietary management is not related to which insulin you’re using. So yes, the claim that OOP’s only alternative to paying $800 was to die is not true.
Comment on Insulin
ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 hours ago
Is there any reason a diabetic has to get the newer patented formulas instead of the old one that the pic talks about which is regularly sold for around $25 a vial in the US without insurance?
I know the new stuff works faster and you don’t have to worry about your diet as much so I’m sure it’s much easier, but why would you have to die instead of just managing your diet and using the $25 stuff for a month in this emergency situation?
Don’t get me wrong all medicine should be free and stuff but like, why die instead of switching to the cheap stuff and dietary management for a month?
zeppo@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
hamid@crazypeople.online 17 hours ago
People respond wildly differently to different types of insulin and it isn’t just a matter of switching and watching your diet. Too much and too little insulin can be deadly and it makes you feel like absolute shit.
ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 hours ago
Ah, so you’d need to know your dosage for that type beforehand, and if you didn’t know it you can’t just wing it. Still though, might be beneficial to know that for emergencies like this because it sounds preferable to certain death.
There should be a little chart your doc gives you at diagnosis (or something, spitballing here) that lays out the dosages you’d need for X, Y, and Z brands so that if say you use X and they’re out (or your kid freezes it or something) you can just consult the dosage chart and get Y for now.
zeppo@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
A unit is a unit, so the dosages are the same. What varies is onset curve and length of action, so timing.
fullsquare@awful.systems 13 hours ago
I don’t think it’s a thing because even the same insulin analogue from different manufacturer can have different dosing
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 15 hours ago
Insulin is not permanently shelf stable, and will still expire in the fridge.
Diabetics usually start with a long-acting insulin to keep blood sugar from naturally rising plus a fast-acting insulin for corrections and to compensate for food.
The old style of just giving 2 long-acting shots of mixed insulin is mostly obsolete, except for legacy patients, some pregnant patients, and other special cases I can only theorize.
A good number of diabetics only use fast acting insulin in a pump, receiving microdoses every minute.
To switch brands of insulin, much less therapies in any circumstance requires a doctor’s visit.
With all that said, the insurance company will often replace a medication in the event of an accident, typically only once a year.
Without that, a patient might be able to find a charity they will assist them.
You also may be able to travel to the next state over where the cost of insulin is regulated.
Failing all other options, it is better to check yourself in to the hospital as your sugar begins to rise and tell them that you cannot control your blood sugar.
nickiwest@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
I don’t think I ever had insurance in the US where checking into the hospital for any amount of time would cost less than $800 out of pocket.
MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 13 hours ago
“Hey good news! After about 35% of your annual income is spent on medical bills on top of your triple digit monthly premiums… That health insurance starts to kick in!”
(Until it resets at the end of the year. Teehee!)
zeppo@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
The deductible system is ridiculous.
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 14 hours ago
It’s no longer about saving money at that point.
ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 hours ago
Ah well that’s good, at least there appears to be some options.
I’ve heard of clandestine labs making patented insulin and selling it cheap too, and I’m all for a good grey market.
SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 14 hours ago
Not sure about that, and not sure if I could trust that.
Another option is to have the doctor prescribe insulin pens or another brand of the same kind of insulin. It’s technically a different prescription and the insurance company usually covers it.
zeppo@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
The subs would be R and NPH, not the old mixed formulas like 70/30.