Blog
T1International, Minnesota #insulin4all, and Partners Submit Amicus Brief for Alec Smith Bill
6 Nov 2020, 8:22 p.m. in #insulin4all USA, News & Statements by T1International
There is an insulin rationing crisis in the United States, driven by the high price of this life-saving medication. Research indicates that one-quarter of people with diabetes have to ration their insulin because of the cost, and rationing puts patients at greater risk of health complications, including death. In Minnesota, advocates responded to the deaths of Alec Raeshawn Smith and Jesimya David Scherer-Radcliff by fighting to pass the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, which was the first in the nation to establish a program for patients with diabetes to purchase the insulin they need at an affordable price. After years of work, this bill was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on April 15, 2020. Read more
What is the Price? - ¿Cuál es el Precio?
30 Oct 2020, 3:03 p.m. in #insulin4all USA by Soli Leal
I wrote this piece for an AP Spanish assignment, but it took me on a deeper journey than I expected. I learned not just about the price of insulin but also how it affects people’s decision making, their accessibility taking priority over general wellbeing. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage month, I wanted to share this in English and Spanish, to give the Hispanic community, especially here in the USA, the representation they well deserve. Read more
There Is No Insulin in Iran
27 Oct 2020, 6:11 p.m. in Global Stories, News & Statements by Mahsa
Shortages of insulin are not something new in Iran, but recently there is no insulin at all. We were shocked by responses from our politicians who said, "The shortage is just for pens and we have plenty of internal production of insulin. People can replace it." However, the types of insulin that are produced in Iran are NPH and R. Few consumers in Iran use NPH. About 70 percent of Iranian people with diabetes use insulin pens. Read more
T1International Statement on Lawsuit to Overturn the Affordable Care Act
20 Oct 2020, 8:24 p.m. in #insulin4all USA, News & Statements by T1International
On November 10, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in California v. Texas, a case that could invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since it was signed into law in 2010, the ACA has provided critical protections to the diabetes community in the United States. Now, a group of 18 states led by Texas are arguing that a single change to the law passed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has rendered the entire law unconstitutional, even though there is no evidence that this was an outcome Congress intended at the time. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Texas, the entire ACA could be ruled unconstitutional. Read more
James Elliott's Reflections on His Time as a Trustee
8 Oct 2020, 3:21 p.m. in News & Statements by James Elliott
T1International would not be where it is today without his dedication and commitment to the cause. We could not be more grateful for his contributions and his voice, which we know he will continue to use to shout loudly for and with people with diabetes everywhere. Read more
Representing Latin America’s Insulin Access Needs at the World Health Organization Workshop
28 Sep 2020, 4:55 p.m. in Global Stories by Daniela Rojas
I felt empowered that the voices of those of us living with type 1 diabetes were respectfully listened and taken into account by the WHO. As noted: Patients have power. Being able to represent my country made those words feel real, and it had tremendous value for me. Read more
California’s SB852 Shows How States Can Use Their Power to Challenge Big Pharma
17 Sep 2020, 6:44 p.m. in #insulin4all USA by Lauren Figg
In a significant challenge to pharmaceutical companies, California passed SB852 in the State Assembly with overwhelming support (66-7) on August 31. The bill would allow the state to contract for or manufacture its own generic or biosimilar prescription drugs, and specifically names insulin in response to the demands of diabetes advocates searching for long-term solutions to the insulin price crisis. Read more
T1International Statement on Executive Orders
14 Sep 2020, 5:04 p.m. in #insulin4all USA, News & Statements by T1International
On Friday afternoon, President Trump released four executive orders intended to lower drug prices, including two targeted directly at lowering the cost of insulin for patients who rely on it. Despite his assertion that these orders are intended to “completely restructure the prescription drug market,” these orders will not do anything to fix the underlying cause of the insulin crisis in America. Patients will still need to wait months for the rulemaking process to run its course, and likely even longer after that if these orders end up in court. While T1International USA is glad that the administration has stated that making insulin more affordable is a priority, these orders miss the mark. We don’t need incremental bureaucratic steps as an election approaches - we need transformative change that will make our medicine more affordable now. Read more
T1International Statement on #insulin4all
21 Aug 2020, 4:17 p.m. in #insulin4all USA, News & Statements by T1International
T1International has been made aware of a recent increase in hateful speech, as well as disrespectful and non-collaborative behavior on the #insulin4all hashtag. While hashtags cannot be owned by anyone, T1International’s global work is tied to #insulin4all. As one of the creators of the hashtag, we want to acknowledge our concerns over these issues and set clear lines about what we stand for as an organization, and what we do not. Read more
People with Type 1 Diabetes Take Action After the Explosion in Beirut
18 Aug 2020, 11:30 a.m. in Global Stories, News & Statements by T1International
“My first thoughts when it happened was that an earthquake had hit, because the earth shook so hard that I could literally feel tectonic plates shifting. The first thing I did was grab my insulin supplies and run down the stairs.” Read more