type 2 diabetes

The Rising Cost of Insulin in the U.S.: A Looming Crisis?

Insulin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body in order to metabolize carbohydrates and to regulate blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes, whose pancreas produces little to no insulin, are insulin-dependent – needing shots of insulin to replenish what their body is not manufacturing. Similarly, those who have type 2 diabetes may also need to have insulin shots to regulate their glucose levels.

The men who discovered insulin in 1923 sold the intellectual property rights for just 3 Canadian dollars. Today, the average price of insulin in the United States is $98.70, with some rates going as high as $250 per vial.

Diabetes is big business for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Even as far back as 1941, several companies were indicted on antitrust and price-fixing charges when they were caught inflating the prices of insulin.

Expensive Insulin – Who Is to Blame?

For those of us who have diabetes, these rising costs are becoming more and more painful in the wallet. Diabetics in the United States pay at least eight times the cost of insulin as compared to those who live in other high-income nations.

The insulin market is broken, from the insulin manufacturers and their lobbyists to the wholesalers and retailers to governmental and nongovernmental regulatory bodies. Insulin prices will continue to rise with no real policy-level solutions.

What then can be done to help patients with diabetes afford the cost of insulin?

What Family Medicine Providers Can Do

Some providers are proactive in helping their patients to better manage their disease. The local family medicine providers may not be able to singlehandedly change the system, but they can provide low-cost options such as human insulin – which is doable and effective.

Moreover, drug manufacturers offer affordable treatment options to certain healthcare facilities through the 340B program, of which more than 12,000 facilities are participating. As a patient, ask your family medicine provider whether you have access to this or to something similar.

Family Medicine Provider in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

The skilled and experienced healthcare team here at Advanced Medical Clinic specializes in diagnosing and treating patients with endocrine disorders, including diabetes. Dr. Ishan Gunawardene, our internal medicine family medicine provider, aims to help his diabetes patients find insulin that they can afford to control their disease.

His wife, Shariffa Gunawardene, is a board-certified nurse practitioner who can treat patients of all ages. Together, they can serve the medical needs of your whole family. We are highly flexible and take a personalized approach for your family’s optimal health.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We have convenient locations in Wellington (off SR7/441, north of Lake Worth Road) and in Royal Palm Beach (near the intersection of Okeechobee Boulevard and Royal Palm Beach Boulevard), and we look forward to being your family’s healthcare partner!

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes

There are a number of different types of diabetes, but two of the most common are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The complications of diabetes, regardless of the type, can be serious if the disease is ignored and left untreated.

Many people have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes without any knowledge that they have the disease. The high levels of glucose in the bloodstream can negatively impact circulation, which can thereby impact the nerves and lead to diabetic neuropathy.

Causes of diabetes are still unknown, although we do know how to treat it once it is discovered. Let’s talk about type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and what you can do about each of them.

What Is Type 1 Diabetes?

This type of diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood, so it is also referred to as juvenile diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes do not naturally produce insulin, or they produce very little insulin, which is the hormone the pancreas produces to convert sugar (glucose) into energy. Insulin is also needed by the body to store glucose for future use, thereby regulating your blood sugar levels.

Ongoing insulin therapy is imperative to maintaining the good health of someone with type 1 diabetes. With insufficient levels of insulin in your body, you can experience dangerously low energy levels and high blood sugar levels.

This condition requires close monitoring of blood sugar levels and regular insulin shots. In the case of type 1 diabetes, most patients are born with it and cannot prevent or cure it.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Much more common than type 1 diabetes is type 2 diabetes. The causes are usually poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Smoking has also been shown to contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

Having someone in your immediate family (parent, sibling, child) with type 2 diabetes increases your risk of developing it. This is the type of diabetes that people are often unaware of until the symptoms become more apparent and complications occur; however, almost everyone with type 2 diabetes had prediabetes first, so regular checkups by your family medicine provider will detect it before it becomes an issue.

With type 2 diabetes, either the diabetic’s body does make insulin but there is a problem with the absorption of glucose by the cells (insulin resistance), or the body does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes is often an adult-onset disease, but more and more children are now being diagnosed with it due to high obesity incidence among children.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Regardless of whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the symptoms can include:

  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Feeling very hungry
  • Urinating frequently
  • Losing weight for no apparent reason
  • Having blurry vision
  • Feeling extremely tired

Treatment for Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes

Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves regular insulin injections as necessary to maintain normal blood sugar levels. However, treatment for type 2 diabetes typically involves making lifestyle changes, such as exercising and dietary changes. Medication and diabetic foot care is also part of the treatment to avoid limb loss.

Advances in technology and research have greatly extended the average lifespan of patients with diabetes. Today, both of these two types are manageable diseases, and you can live a normal and active life.

Diabetes Management in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

Our board-certified internal medicine family medicine providers here at Advanced Medical specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic medical conditions, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We will help you manage your symptoms and prevent complications so that you can enjoy life.

To schedule a consultation, call Advanced Medical today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment via our online form now. We look forward to being your healthcare partner!

What Does Being a Pre-Diabetic Patient Mean?

Being diagnosed as pre-diabetic may seem like a serious sentence, but it really is more of a warning that your condition need not become permanent if you are committed to making some lifestyle changes. Here is what being pre-diabetic means, and what you can do about it.

Two Types of Diabetes – Type 2

There are two different types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. While Type 2 can be alleviated and possibly even backtracked with proper diet and exercise, Type 1 diabetes cannot. As opposed to Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin, the hormone necessary to process the sugar your body takes in. Pre-diabetes refers to the stage before your body is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and occurs when your blood sugar level is higher than what is deemed normal, but has not yet reached the level of Type 2 Diabetes.

In these cases, your body may not be properly processing sugar, or glucose, after you ingest it. This means the sugar begins to accumulate in your body instead of fueling your muscles and tissues as it normally should. So, each time you consume food, for instance, a sandwich, the sugar from it will enter your bloodstream. Without insulin, it will not enter the cells and you will not feel the energy from said sandwich.

Patterns to Watch

So, what kind of patterns should you be keeping track of that could put you at risk for pre-diabetes? For starters, check your diet. What you’re consuming could be impacting how you continue processing sugar. Red and processed meats make your body work very hard to process it. Also, sugary drinks like juices, sports drinks and sodas are big culprits that elevate your sugar levels, putting you at a higher risk of pre-diabetes. You should also monitor your weight regularly; being overweight puts you at a higher risk of getting diabetes.

Quick and Easy Long-term Fixes for Pre-Diabetes

Again, being diagnosed as a pre-diabetic patient doesn’t have to be permanent if you take serious steps to make a change. Committing to lowering your sugar levels, eating more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and exercising regularly to keep your weight down will all make a significant difference in bringing your sugar levels back to normal.

The Importance of Regular Diabetic Screenings

It’s important to talk to your family medicine provider and have regular health screenings if you do believe you could be at risk for pre-diabetes, as the condition itself displays almost no obvious signs or symptoms. You may feel sluggish due to your body’s inability to properly process sugar, but it can vary. The more diligent you are with regular monitoring and healthy living, the more likely you are to prevent the long-term effects that come with full-on Type 2 diabetes.

The friendly staff at Advanced Medical welcomes your call and looks forward to serving you for any primary care services, including diabetes screening and care. For a full medical workup, to check your body’s sugar levels and to learn your risk for pre-diabetes or developing Type 2 diabetes, speak to the medical experts at Advanced Medical Clinic. Call us at (561) 434-1935 to schedule an appointment, or you can use our secure online appointment request form.