OT - ANY DIABETICS OUT THERE THAT CAN'T AFFORD INSULIN ?

[Richard King]

I wrote about this a few years back and want to tell any new members or old ones who may have missed it. I used to buy the Diabetic pen to give myself insulin. I was at the CVS Pharmacy and my co-pay for a 90 day supply was $1400.00. I told the Pharmacist that was terrible and she said. "Go to Walmart as they sell a cheap insulin with-out a prescription" So I didn't buy the Pens and drove over to Walmart. I asked about the insulin and sure enough they sell Novolin N - NPH (Isophane Insolin) slow acting and Novolin R Fast acting for $26.00 a vile each. The vile contains 100 units/ml 10 mL. It says on the Vile "Manufactured by Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark - Only for retail sale by Walmart and it's affiliates"

I asked my doctor about it and he didn't know about it. He looked up the insulin and told me the doses to take. I have to buy the syringes and have to give myself the long acting 2 times a day and the short acting 20 minutes before meals. It is a bit of a more pain (literally) but the vile has more in the injector pen and I now spend about $ 130.00 a month for 5 viles. No Co Pay. No Prescription. My doctor also put me on a sliding scale on how much to take. I take my blood sugar test and depending on the number I take either 1 to 6 units above my normal dose of 20 units before each (3) meal. My A1C is now lower than ever and I can afford the insulin. I'm not a big Walmart shopper as it seems like they sell a lot of Chinese merchandise, but The Insulin is SUPER!

 

[Mark Rand]

To put even that price into context, the UK National Health service pays £15 for the same vial of NPH insulin and it costs about $6 to produce!

 

[Scottl]

This line in your post says it all:

"Manufactured by Novo Nordisk A/S Denmark - Only for retail sale by Walmart and it's affiliates"

Unlike a certain other country they don't sell crap. I'm still pissed that a DAK canned ham now contains a Plumrose USA product, not as good as the old Danish product.

 

[RC Mech]

As someone who has synthesized insulin analogues, the process is straight forward and the cost is pennies per vial.

Like him or not (I’m not a huge fan), Mark Cuban has started an admirable company called “Cost Plus” pharmaceuticals. Something the US desperately needs.

 

[kustomizingkid]

Listen to the Joe Rogan podcast #1873 with Brigham Buhler, very enlightening on why drugs costs are so insane.

 

[Richard King]

My Doctor had me test the Freestyle Libre 14 blood sugar device that they put on the back of your Bicep (arm) . It sounds good, but there is a co-pay and you have to replace it every 2 weeks. I tested it for a month. It is convenient and you check with you cell phone, but I bumped it and it came off. It has a sticky glue that holds it on and a small needle that goes into your arm. I stopped using it and use my One Touch meter which is a pain but I prefer the old way.

 

[metalmagpie]

On a recent 12 week road trip I forgot my Humalog insulin. I walked into a Walgreens in Ashland, Wisconsin and bought 2 vials for (I think) $140 each. Had to have them. They lasted me until we went into Quebec. In a Canadian pharmacy I got the 2 vials of Humalog for about $40US. Lots cheaper.

metalmagpie

 

[Demon69]

For the guys with Type 2, look into fasting.