Diabetics skimp on lifesaving care in recession

[Liberal_in_LA]

Diabetics skimp on lifesaving care in recession

By LINDA A. JOHNSON – 2 hours ago

Diabetics are increasingly risking life and limb by cutting back on — or even going without — doctor visits, insulin, medicines and blood-sugar testing as they lose income and health insurance in the recession, an Associated Press analysis has found.

Doctors have seen a drop in regular appointments with diabetic patients, if they come back at all. Patients more often seek tax-subsidized or charity care. And they end up in emergency rooms more often, patients and physicians said in interviews.

Sales of top-selling drugs and other products used to treat and monitor the disease have dropped since the economic crisis accelerated last fall, the AP analysis found. There are even signs that some patients are choosing less-expensive insulin injections over pricier pills to save money.

Meanwhile, the number of people with the disease keeps growing — another 1.6 million Americans were diagnosed in 2007 alone.

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M. Eileen Collins, 48, of Indianapolis, tried to scrimp on her medication last fall after her husband lost his job and with it their insurance. Without money for insulin, test supplies and other medicines, she asked for free samples and also got a few drugs through $4-a-month generic programs. But she stopped taking most of her drugs and cut her insulin doses in half to stretch her budget.

"I truly did not think I was putting my life in danger," Collins said. "I thought if I was just real careful with what I ate ... I'd be all right."

By Thanksgiving eve, Collins was vomiting blood and rushed to a hospital. Doctors diagnosed her as malnourished, anemic and in diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition caused by lack of insulin and sky-high blood sugar. She spent a week in the hospital.

Her story is hardly unique.

Dr. Steven Edelman, a University of California, San Diego endocrinologist who runs a free clinic staffed by medical students, has seen a 30 percent surge the past six months in patients seeking free diabetes medicines and supplies, which the clinic has to ration. Many had been solidly middle class, but the recession took their jobs, insurance and even some homes.

"A third to a half of these people haven't been taking their meds at all," said Edelman, who also founded the advocacy group Taking Control of Your Diabetes.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iKn1CzxbxZgsSHG9WJulKcJkOGqgD97H26OG0

[DJ13]

1. I blame the pharma industry

On testing supplies they've adopted the razorblade model, where the machine is practically free, but each test strip costs well over $1.

My wife was diagnosed as type2 and the doctor gave her a Freestyle Lite meter, which was great, but the strips are $57 for 50 strips at Walmart.

Thats outrageous for something they cant spend more than .10c producing.

Between that and two kinds of medicines to keep her glucose level down its really putting a crimp in our budget.

[corpseratemedia]

2. a parent of mine died from diabetes

type 2

I feel very bad that pro-private insurance representatives don't care at all to the horrible complications from this disease not being treated because people don't have enough money to line the CEO's pockets the way the health insurance CEO's would like.

[subterranean]

3. A week in the hospital...

I hate to think what the bill will be for that. It doesn't sound like they're in any position to pay it either. Not good for them or the hospital. This could have been avoided, at much less cost, if we had universal health care.