When the Insulin That Works Disappears

This headline hit me hard. As someone living with Type 1 diabetes for 15 years, I know exactly what it feels like to lose access to the medication that keeps you alive.

When I was first diagnosed in my twenties, a fast-acting insulin brought my dangerously high blood sugar back under control. It worked well for me and helped me stay stable. Then my insurance stopped covering it. I was forced to switch to a different brand that didn’t match my body’s needs. My blood sugar spiked and crashed in unpredictable ways. Eventually, I found another option that worked even better. I finally felt in control again.

Until it vanished from the pharmacy shelf due to manufacturing issues.

I spent over two months riding out highs and lows. I felt exhausted, anxious, foggy, and unwell. By the time the supply returned, I had developed a diabetes complication that affects digestion and makes blood sugar even harder to manage. I cannot help but wonder if those unstable weeks accelerated its onset.

Insulin is not a luxury. It is not interchangeable. It is the difference between life and death. No one should lose access to the medication that works for them because of supply disruptions or insurance decisions.