Companies spike insulin prices

March 19, 2020

According to Democratic St. Louis Park state representative and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Ryan Winkler, the price of insulin has spiked 400% over the past decade despite the product remaining relatively unchanged.

“Many people can’t afford it today and the drug companies that are manufacturing it, there are only three in the world,” Winkler said. “So they are reaping huge profits from this and depriving people of something they need.” 

According to junior Daniel Goldenberg, a Type 1 diabetic, insulin is unique compared to other common medicines, as diabetics literally cannot live without it. 

“Instead of using insulin to lower your blood sugars, you start to rely on fat, so it’s breaking down,” Goldenberg said. “Obviously, that sounds really bad and there are many other bad symptoms. You’ve heard of people that get their feet removed.”

While visiting the coffin of a young man who had passed away as a result of insulin rationing, Republican Senator Jim Abeler of Anoka said he felt compelled to take action on the insulin crisis.

“It just makes you want to weep,” Abeler said. “It inspired me to say, ‘this is never going to happen again.’”

Civics and economics teacher Bradley Brubaker said diabetics’ reliance on insulin creates an endless demand for the drug, allowing companies to continuously raise prices without consequence.

“It’s different with insulin because you’ve got somebody backed into a corner. They absolutely have to have it,” Brubaker said. “So it’s not a pure capitalistic venture when somebody absolutely has to have it.”

Sophomore Truman Fillbrandt, who has Type 1 diabetes, urged for change to protect the lives of diabetics.

“Almost every month now due to insulin rationing (diabetics die) and basically if lawmakers don’t (make changes), the blood is on their hands.” Fillbrandt said.  

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