The Cost of Politicizing Insulin

Yumlish: Diabetes and Multicultural Nutrition

In this week's episode, we will be speaking with Dr. Irl Hirsch about the high costs of insulin. Dr. Hirsch will discuss the struggles that people with type 1 diabetes face because the cost of insulin has increased to an untouchable point, which forces people to find alternative ways to save money. We will also be talking about the politicization of insulin costs and who's really to blame.

Dr. Hirsch received his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1984. He completed residency training in internal medicine at the University of Miami, in Miami, Florida, and Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach, Florida, and a research fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

From both a research and teaching point of view, Dr. Hirsch’s career has focused on studying the best strategies for the use of insulin therapy in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. More recently, he has become involved with artificial pancreas technology and better understanding of the limitations of diabetes biomarkers. With regards to patient care, most patients in his practice have type 1 diabetes or atypical forms of diabetes. Over the years, he has been a passionate advocate for patients ensuring access and affordability for glucose monitoring technology and in the past decade, insulin. Dr. Hirsch has authored more than 250 research papers, more than 60 editorials (including the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA), and numerous book chapters in addition to six books for patients and physicians

Dr. Hirsch is the former chair of the Professional Practice Committee for the American Diabetes Association and has served as editor-in-chief of two ADA journals, “Clinical Diabetes” and “DOC News”. He is an Associate Editor of “Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics” and has been on the editorial board of “Diabetes Care”. He has also served as a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

“ ...is insulin a right? Or is it a privilege? In my opinion, and for the Canadian scientists who discovered insulin, it is a right. “

QOTD: Do you buy your insulin outside of the U.S.?

On this episode you will learn:

History of insulin

The recent bill pertaining to insulin

Price of insulin

How to get insulin

Connect with Yumlish!

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

YouTube

Key Points:

0:00: Intro with Shireen

0:56: Introducing Dr. Hirsch

2:33: Why insulin has gotten political

14:15: What was in the bill and why is it important

18:16: What the bill means for those with limited access to insulin

22:37: Consequences of rationing insulin

25:13: Light at the end of the tunnel

27:25: Outro with Shireen

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yumlish/message