The Cost of Life

It is 2016 and in Australia there is 125,000 type 1 diabetics. There are millions world wide and we progress everyday towards easier management however in some countries it would be still believed that type 1 diabetes is a certain death sentence. This isn't because the life saving hormone, Insulin, isn't available but more to do with the fact that it is not affordable for a family to get what they desperately need for life.

I admit here and now that here in Australia we are lucky. Lucky to be born in a country that realises that health is important and that a suitable health care system is in place to make sure the drugs and devices are available when needed.

After reading stories on line from people saying that they needed to ration out their insulin to make sure they can make it through to when they could afford more (due to either the health care system or the insurance company rules) it shocked me to think that big business and governments are playing with lives of people who should be able to lead long and normal lives as long as they have the small drops of insulin in their system to stop the rapid rise of dangerous blood sugars which if left untreated will cause organ failure and ultimately death.

Anyway after reading these stories I came across data that looked at the true cost of what we need when held up to the average wage in each country. We all complain that this disease is expensive but I bet the following will shock at least some of you.

• In Australia the cost of insulin and diabetic consumables equates on average to 1% of a yearly family income who sit in the lowest 20% income group for the country.
• In India the cost of insulin and diabetic consumables equates on average 148% of a yearly family income who sit in the lowest 20% income group for the country.

Right now I bet your thinking well if I had to try and find a way to live with what I have and put the insulin into my body but it will cost me more that I can earn "What the hell would I do?". I know I am. But they s isn't even the scariest part of the story.

• In Malawi and the Central African Republic the cost of insulin and diabetic consumables for the lowest 20% income bracket is 1160% and 1438% of the yearly income.

Imagine being that person knowing that the drugs that you need and the equipment that can help save your life is just simply out of reach.

We live in an era where we go online and purchase this and that from all over the world never thinking of the people who can't get what they need to live, to stay alive even at a basic level. This isn't just for people with T1D this a problem with a lot of diseases in developing nations however T1D hits home for me and as a father of a T1DD it makes me think what if I couldn't get what she needed. Her life would not be as it is.

Further investigation into this I came across Insulin for Life (IFL). A non for profit organisation in place to collect and distribute insulin and diabetic supplies that would be otherwise be disregarded and thrown out and sending them to developing nations to help just some of those that don't have access to what they desperately need. IFL is located globally so if you have insulin that is getting close to use by date or equipment that you have upgraded or your moving from MDI to being on a pump and you no longer need large stores of long acting insulin then open your mind to those that don't have the access you and I do and save a life. Even if your reading this and a loved one is the one with T1D then you can also help with donations. 

We live in a time of global awareness and I believe that we all have the right to live now that we have the technology and medical advancements to change a death sentence into life.