Navigating insulin shortages
An insulin shortage continues forcing some diabetes patients to turn to weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Some diabetes patients this year have had trouble finding their preferred insulin brands as major drug manufacturers reported shortages of the medicine. set out to find out what patients can do.
Why are advocates worried about insulin shortages?
Advocates for diabetes patients who need insulin to survive worry the nation’s supply has become unreliable. Certain brands of insulin have been periodically in shortage since late 2023. The shortages caught the attention of patient advocates and members of Congress who have demanded answers from the nation’s three dominant insulin makers.
What is Congress doing about insulin shortages?
U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, and Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, asked the three major insulin makers last month what steps they were taking to shore up the supply of insulin.
In Sept. 23 letters to CEOs of the three pharmaceutical giants, the lawmakers said insulin was a “critical public health need” and they reminded them that patients with Type 1 diabetes need steady access to short-acting insulin.
Which insulin brands are in shortage and why?
Earlier this year, Eli Lilly reported temporary shortages of Humalog and insulin lispro in 10-milliliter vials. The company said new regulations had led to a brief delay in manufacturing, and supply shortages involving other manufacturers meant that more people were seeking Lilly’s insulin vials.
The company discontinued its 3-milliliter vials of Humalog, which is mainly used by hospitals, to free up capacity for the 10-milliliter vials, according to the company’s response letter to lawmakers.
Manufacturing delays will cause the Novo Nordisk’s Fiasp vials to be in short supply through October, a spokesperson said. Earlier this year, the drugmaker reported shortages of NovoLog insulin.
What can I do if I can’t find insulin?
Drug companies recommend patients check with their pharmacies about the availability of insulin and contact other pharmacies if necessary to find more vials. If people can’t find their preferred insulin at area pharmacies, they should speak with their doctor to determine the best course of action.
How many Americans need insulin?
Patients with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to regulate their blood sugar because their bodies do not produce insulin. About 2 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes are dependent on insulin. Millions more with Type 2 diabetes also take insulin as their disease advances. About 38 million Americans have diabetes, the majority Type 2.
What other medicines do people with Type 2 diabetes use?
People with Type 2 diabetes increasingly turn to weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, part of a new category of medication called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1 drugs. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Other GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy are approved to treat weight loss. Drug companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in factory production to keep pace with the skyrocketing demand from American consumers who want these drugs for diabetes, weight loss and other conditions.
GLP-1s have surpassed insulin as the second most commonly prescribed medicine to manage Type 2 diabetes, according to commercial health insurance claims analyzed by Trilliant Health, a health care analytics company. Only Metformin, another diabetes drug, was prescribed more frequently in 2023.
