Washington, D.C. – The recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” represents the largest and greatest healthcare loss in American history, cutting health care for 17 million people living in this country. This bill, passed in the United States Congress today, is a profound and deadly cut for people living with diabetes, their families, and marginalized and disabled people across the country.

“It is no exaggeration to say that without Medicaid, I wouldn’t be alive today.” said Lacy McGee, a person living with type 1 diabetes in Georgia, and a member of T1International’s Federal Working Group. “Medicaid gave me, and millions of other Americans a chance at life. It is part of the backbone of our healthcare system. These cuts to healthcare access will have profound consequences for individual lives, as well as the health of our country.”

Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the body’s ability to utilize or make insulin, an essential hormone for the body’s functioning. Without the ability to use or make insulin, the body is unable to turn food into energy, and organ systems begin to shut down. People with diabetes need consistent, reliable healthcare in order to live healthy lives. The loss of Medicaid or health insurance coverage means a loss of access to insulin, glucose self-monitoring supplies, and vital care.

In the United States, people living with type 1 diabetes are spending on average $152 per month on insulin and $259 per month on glucose self-monitoring supplies. The consequences of these high costs are dire – one in three people living with type 1 diabetes ration insulin and nearly half report rationing glucose self-monitoring supplies in the past year.

“Cuts to Medicaid are indicative of the belief that people living with disabilities and chronic health conditions don't matter. That our lives are not worth caring for,” said Stephanie Arceneaux, a person living with type 1 diabetes in Utah and a member of T1International’s Federal Working Group. “But let me set the record straight: We do matter. We do not deserve to suffer. I want to ask every member that voted for this bill to tell my 10-year-old with type one diabetes to his face why they think it's okay to deny anyone living with his same disease that they don't deserve access to the insulin that keeps them alive.”

As a global organization, T1International recognizes that the fight for affordable and accessible insulin is not confined to one country. This crisis in the United States mirrors systemic injustices faced by people with diabetes across the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to affordable insulin and care remains dangerously limited.

“Trying to navigate the healthcare system as a single mom with a child with type 1 diabetes is hard enough. This legislation is unconscionable,” said Tracy Ramey, a person living with type 2 diabetes, the Ohio #insulin4all Chapter Leader, and a member of T1International’s Federal Working Group. “I am disgusted and disappointed by Members of Congress who supported and voted for this bill. They are to blame when people living with diabetes come to emergency rooms because we cannot access the insulin or testing supplies we need. We will remember that next election.”

See the diabetes organizational sign-on letter T1International organized and sent to Congressional Leadership, alongside hundreds of letters from constituents to their Members of Congress.

“At T1International, we know we need comprehensive and robust policy change to achieve our vision of a world where everyone with diabetes can survive and achieve their dreams,” said Shaina Kasper, Executive Director of T1International and a person living with type 1 diabetes. “We will continue to fight for structural changes, and work to end monopolies, including working towards patent reform here in the United States and publicly manufactured insulins across the world.”

To contact your Members of Congress regarding the need for patent reform in the United States, click here. You can join T1International’s movement for #insulin4all here.