New Programs Bring Help for Michigan Diabetics Struggling to Afford Insulin

MICHIGAN—November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and more than 900,000 Michiganders have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.

People with diabetes make up more than 11.5% of the adult population. Another 35%—or 2.7 million people—reportedly have pre-diabetes. And Dr. Nicole Brady, chief medical officer for employer and individual business at UnitedHealthcare, said the rising cost of insulin is putting many patients in a bind.

“Many of them may even have to make decisions such as, ‘Am I gonna buy food for my family this week or am I gonna spend money on my insulin?’ So it puts them in a very precarious position,” Brady said.

A study published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed one in five adults with diabetes is rationing insulin to save money, a practice which can damage eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and the heart.

The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which passed this summer, caps the cost of insulin for people on Medicare at $35 a month starting in January. It also caps Medicare recipients’ out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 a year and allows Medicare to negotiate the cost of some drugs.

Brady added starting Jan. 1, UnitedHealthcare will also offer zero-dollar cost sharing for people enrolled in standard fully insured group plans, to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for certain prescription medications, including preferred brands of insulin.

“This should reduce the risk of expensive hospitalizations and of complications from the high blood sugars that can be an effect of diabetes,” Brady said. “And overall should make people just feel better.”

In the meantime, Brady is offering some tips on improving your quality of life while on an insulin regimen. She advises people to reduce sugary processed foods, limit alcohol and avoid tobacco.

“Smoking and tobacco actually decrease the effectiveness of insulin,” Brady said. “We can better manage our stress because stress can raise our blood-sugar levels.”

She also said regular exercise can improve your blood-sugar levels because working out causes your muscles to use more glucose for energy.

This article was republished from Public News Service.