Diabetes Sees Color
By Patrick Jennings ‘25
Among the many shortcomings of the current healthcare system, there exists an ongoing inequality of treatment for chronic diseases. While diabetes affects around 10.5% of the American public, it disproportionately affects minorities. As a result, public health initiatives and medical practitioners must adapt and alter their strategies to remedy the inaccessibility of healthcare for underrepresented populations.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus occurs when the body’s cells reject insulin, the hormone required to regulate blood sugar. As a result, the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. When the body recognizes a low blood sugar level, it forces the pancreas to increase production of insulin, resulting in general fatigue and a plethora of related symptoms. Some of these include frequent urination, blurry vision, thirst, and chronic infection. The main difference between type 2 and other forms of diabetes lies mostly in causation. Type 2 develops over time due to lifestyle and cultural habits, whereas other types are genetic and hereditary. In this regard, type 2 diabetes bridges health with behavioral habits and socioeconomic status.
Diabetes sees green. In the modern day health care system, primarily non-Hispanic whites tend to reap the benefits of diabetic drug treatments. Given the extreme price fluctuations of insulin, it can be difficult for economically disadvantaged groups to afford the necessary medication. In many cases, exorbitant prices force people to consistently skip their doses. This dangerous practice can result in severe complications and, in rare cases, death.
Recently, there have been pushes for bipartisan support in the Senate to limit the cost of insulin copays, since previous unilateral efforts have fallen short. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock introduced a bill to reduce the price of a monthly supply of insulin to $35 for those covered by private health insurance or Medicare. However, a reduction in copays might increase the list prices of insulin for the uninsured, leaving them to bear the true costs of the proposed bill. As a result, Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen are working on a more financially inclusive bill. In addition to limiting the price of copays, their proposal aims to better alleviate the economic burden of uninsured insulin consumers.
Not only does the non-Hispanic white population benefit from an economic standpoint, they are also less likely to be diagnosed. Certain clinical studies among minority groups of the US population revealed that type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in Asian, African-American, Hispanic, and Native communities. They are also more susceptible to diabetes symptoms and cardiovascular complications at a lower BMI than non-hispanic whites under similar conditions. This disparity is in large part due to lifestyle differences, correlated with economic inequalities. Lack of physical activity, smoking, and diet all contribute to the inflammatory effects of type 2 diabetes. Given that economically disadvantaged groups have less free time and financial freedom, their symptoms are amplified by stress and unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Promoting lifestyle changes alongside drug treatment might be considerably more efficacious at improving health care compared to drug prescriptions alone. We often underestimate the dominance of regulatory agencies and medical professionals in creating a culture of habit reinforcement or habit discouragement. While doctors must also maintain a calm attitude, this misread nonchalance contributes to patients’ lack of urgency in receiving treatment or altering their lifestyle habits. Especially as high drug costs may remain stagnant over the near future, medical professionals must find new, cheaper ways to cater to their patients’ needs.
Sources:
Not All Patients With Diabetes Are Treated Equally - Scientific American
Limits on insulin costs revived in push for Senate action | AP News
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000181391000005
https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000242410600004
Image Source:
https://www.british-dragon.org/uploads/britishdragon/images/insulin.jpg
