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SHOCKING news story on the BBC website

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everydayupsanddowns

everydayupsanddowns

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Mike I saw this from your Twitter (or Emmas!) and I am still sat here absolutely fuming. They make it sound like we're a bunch of divas demanding 'designer' insulin. They didn't cover the better control it can have or people seeing which works best. And surely the cost of rubbish control is more to the NHS than the cost of insulin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

will read your complaint now, just had to say something straight away!
 
Yes, posted in today's news stories too. Another attempt to blame diabetics for being a 'burden' :( Why should we get better drugs when we brought it all on ourselves? Maybe the article would have been clearer if they had mentioned that the cheaper insulins are not suitable for all diabetics, but perhaps for some Type 2s on long-acting a saving may be possible. The article's figures showed a saving if ALL people on insulin had the cheaper stuff.

DUK said this:
"While there is limited and inconclusive evidence that insulin analogues improve HbA1c, there is evidence that analogues have beneficial effects on glycaemic control by reducing postprandial glucose levels, improving fasting glucose levels, reducing hypoglycaemia (especially nocturnal) and reducing weight gain. It's important to note these benefits should not be seen as less important than reduction of HbA1c - these outcomes play an important part in improving quality of life of people with diabetes and must not be ignored.

"Diabetes UK recommends that insulin analogues, whether rapid acting, long acting or premixed should be as available as human insulin to all people with diabetes. The decision of which insulin is the most appropriate for a person with diabetes should be made on an individual basis in consultation with the person with diabetes themselves."
Click to expand...
 
Rather than reading the BBC version of the story, try the original paper here: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/1/2/e000258.full?sid=b743fc79-5fd6-44e8-9825-2e078f18018b

I can't see the problem in pointing out that analogue insulins are more expensive than human insulins eg long acting Levemir and Lantus cost approximately double Humalin I. Surely, it's better to start on a cheaper insulin and change to a more expensive only if the cheaper is not suitable?
 
Copepod said:
Rather than reading the BBC version of the story, try the original paper here: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/1/2/e000258.full?sid=b743fc79-5fd6-44e8-9825-2e078f18018b

I can't see the problem in pointing out that analogue insulins are more expensive than human insulins eg long acting Levemir and Lantus cost approximately double Humalin I. Surely, it's better to start on a cheaper insulin and change to a more expensive only if the cheaper is not suitable?
Click to expand...

The problem with mass media tabloid style stories like this is the lay public's perception as Mike points out in his blogpost he's just written (a very good post I might add).

They may get the impression that we're on some sort of tailored insulin that doesn't really give value for money and is just giving us an easy time, rather than the quality of life and health benefits they do bring.
Whilst Humulin may be suited to your lifestyle, it probably wouldn't be good for everyone. I don't know why I'm on lantus except that, at the time, it was offered to me as a companion to humalog and I was just happy to put the older insulins behind me.

Rob
 
Humalog can be used with Humalin I - that combination has suited my very irregular lifestyle for over 15 years. As I've said elsewhere, Lantus costs double Humalin I.

The point is that prescribers should, in my opinion, offer the cheaper insulin first and only prescribe more expensive if the cheaper doesn't work.
 
Copepod said:
...I can't see the problem in pointing out that analogue insulins are more expensive than human insulins eg long acting Levemir and Lantus cost approximately double Humalin I. Surely, it's better to start on a cheaper insulin and change to a more expensive only if the cheaper is not suitable?
Click to expand...

Indeed, but the problem is conflating and exaggerating that possibility to suggest that everyone would be just as well off with the cheaper stuff, and once again using it to attack people with diabetes rather than calmly reporting the facts. Far more people will read the sensationalist BBC story than the original research paper.

It's not news anyway, this story came out months (if not years) ago.
 
That's the thing Copepod. Essentially I agree with idea that human insulins should be considered as a first option for many (though perhaps not all) patients with the considered decision of the clinic/consultant.

What got so under my skin was the assertion that *everyone* should be on the older insulins, and stop making such a fuss about it. They were just as good anyway...

For the record I've had T1 long enough to pre-date analogues so have seen the improvements I was able to make by changing to them when they became available.
 
Copepod said:
Humalog can be used with Humalin I - that combination has suited my very irregular lifestyle for over 15 years. As I've said elsewhere, Lantus costs double Humalin I.

The point is that prescribers should, in my opinion, offer the cheaper insulin first and only prescribe more expensive if the cheaper doesn't work.
Click to expand...

I agree, but the reporting style with it's headlines and emotive catchwords are unhelpful to say the least and misrepresentatve and unrealistic in its apparent intent to create outrage.

A more balanced story would have sufficed that explained why there are different inulins and why some need more expensive than others, followed by a more realistic 'guess' at how much could be saved. That way the public (and many professionals) don't assume we're all wastign their hard earned money on trivial niceties.

Rob
 
Agree with you there Rob. There is nothing wrong with pointing out that human insulins are cheaper and if the nurses think that human insulins will work for a particular patient then it would be sensible to try that first. But they need to balance the story by saying why some of us benefit from analogue insulins rather than attacking the current system and making us feel bad for being a waste of money! Personally I moved straight from the mixed 2 a day insulins to levemir because I struggled with night time/ morning levels and hypos at night (I still do) and it was decided that the flat profile of levemir would help me and them to see what was going on!
 
Been there, done that, had the accidents on the M42 .....

Came off my once a day porcine Ultralente after 13 years because I built up antibodies to it and it worked as well as injected water.

Changed to Humulin I and S. Kept me alive, that's the only good thing I have to say about it. Lost my hypo symptoms, I could get in the car to drive home and I'd be 6 ish - 15 minutes later I could be up the crash barrier. Not every time, what fun, happened when it happened. Twice. Nearly came off the back of husbands motorbike numerous times. Ambulance jobbies all over the ruddy country.

You can bet your sweet bippy that I most certainly DID ask to change to 'designer' insulin. Once I heard about them, I begged, pleaded and cried until they let me.

If the NHS said I had to go back on Humulin, I'd be straight into a certain room with a certain locked metal cabinet. A short while later there would be a f***ing big BANG and poor ole Pete would be left to clear up the mess.

Ah well, that'd certainly save em some dosh if that's how they want to play it .......
 
Fortunately, neither the BBC, the Daily Mail nor any of the other sensationalist sun seeking tabloids decide what meds we get.

There's plenty of scope for cost-cutting before they take an axe to our life blood and I would imagine there's a few MPs and plenty of journos who are reliant on the same.

They might be tempted to stand up if it's ever mooted.🙄

Rob
 
its sensationalizing NHS spending on insulin.
its a very North American style of reporting isnt it?

perhaps they should give numbers on the amounts of people being diagnosed every year. considering that is rising similar to the spending.

i suppose they could just start charging us all for needles again?

or maybe test strips thats an extremely lucrative gravy train.
 
Im incensed too but on a lighter note, there's no such thing as "designer" insulin - to me that would indicate bottles/cartridges in fancy colours to match our outfits, a bit of bling maybe - you know what I mean folks?!
 
Flutterby said:
Im incensed too but on a lighter note, there's no such thing as "designer" insulin - to me that would indicate bottles/cartridges in fancy colours to match our outfits, a bit of bling maybe - you know what I mean folks?!
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean and think that each insulin cartridge should come studded with diamonds and needles that sparkle:D
 
Media

Let's face it, certain people in the media believe what they want to believe. And dam the consequences, and the human race, which they want to control not advise, and inform but this keeps the un educated and those with tunnel vision happy.
 
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