I generally avoid tuning into Trump’s press conferences; they often leave me frustrated. His comments can be incredibly uninformed, and his tendency to berate the press dampens my day. However, recently, his remarks about insulin popped up on my newsfeed, and I couldn’t help but react.
In a press conference, Trump announced that beginning next year, many Medicare seniors will have the opportunity to buy insulin for $35 a month or less. While this is a positive development, given the exorbitant prices of insulin, things took a baffling turn when he stated, “I don’t use insulin. Should I be? Huh? I never thought about it.” The President of the United States, seemingly clueless about insulin, has a case of insulin FOMO.
I know, I know—this shouldn’t shock anyone. Trump previously endorsed hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for malaria, despite a lack of evidence supporting its efficacy against COVID-19. He has also suggested injecting disinfectants or utilizing UV light as potential remedies for the coronavirus. We can’t exactly call him a medical expert.
Later in the same conference, after Trump and Vice President Harris lauded their administration’s efforts, Surgeon General Miller addressed Trump’s bewilderment regarding insulin. He explained, “Your body, Mr. President, actually makes insulin endogenously. So yes, we do utilize insulin, but we make it ourselves.” Trump’s response? Just an uninterested “Ah.”
As is typical, Trump managed to steer the conversation toward himself: his achievements, his desires, and his administration’s successes. He claimed that insulin prices will come “tumbling down” for seniors because, unlike Obama’s “crippling requirements,” his administration has created a “competitive situation” involving “insurers, manufacturers, and other key players.”
The truth is, diabetes is not limited to senior citizens. People of all ages, including infants, can require insulin. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 24. While I’m thrilled for seniors who will benefit from lower insulin costs, it’s painfully clear that Trump isn’t making this change out of genuine concern or understanding. He’s making a political play, as he explicitly stated in his remarks.
He declared, “This is a big day for seniors. This is a tremendous saving. And it allows people that — you know, if you don’t take insulin — I just wrote this down — go blind, stroke, amputation, kidney failure, and other things.” Then he added, “I hope seniors are going to remember it, because Biden is the one who put us into the jam because they didn’t know what they were doing. They were incompetent.” Read that again. He wants seniors to “remember it.”
Trump is trying to secure the senior vote—not just through cost savings but by placing blame on Obama and Biden. It’s infuriating that he doesn’t understand the implications of insulin while simultaneously wanting to claim it for himself, like a child hoarding the last piece of cake at a party. And according to Trump, the sky-high insulin prices are the fault of Biden and Obama; oh, the irony.
Diabetes is a serious issue. Reports indicate that some diabetics are driving to Canada to purchase insulin at a fraction of the cost. Insulin prices have skyrocketed by 1000% over the past two decades, forcing many to ration their supplies dangerously.
For those of us relying on insulin to survive, cost is irrelevant; we have to figure out how to pay for it. There are no alternative treatments—no shakes, supplements, essential oils, or diets that can cure my autoimmune disease. (And no, malaria medications and disinfectants won’t help either.)
If insulin can be made more affordable for seniors on Medicare, why can’t it be accessible to everyone? The CDC notes that one in ten Americans, or about 34.2 million people, live with diabetes. Among these, 5-10% are type 1 diabetics like myself. Medical expenses for diabetics are more than twice those of individuals without the condition.
My insulin alone—a small part of my diabetes management—costs $2400 for a three-month supply. This doesn’t even factor in the costs of my insulin pump, doctor visits, testing supplies, or other essential healthcare services.
Surgeon General Miller pointed out during the conference, “We know that seven million people depend on insulin. From a type 1 diabetes standpoint, 1.6 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, and most of them are insulin-dependent.” However, I understand that insulin price reductions will likely be limited to those whom Trump believes will vote for him in November. The rest of us, including children who cannot vote but live with type 1 diabetes, seem irrelevant.
Seeing yet another headline about diabetes is painful, especially with the additional challenges posed by COVID-19. It’s downright pathetic that the President questions whether he should even be taking insulin while millions of us face the harsh realities of living with diabetes.
For more insights on this issue, check out this article. If you’re looking for a reputable source on topics related to health, consider visiting News Medical.
In summary, Trump’s lack of understanding about insulin and diabetes highlights a troubling disconnect between those in power and the everyday realities faced by millions. While his administration’s announcement may help some seniors, it underscores a larger issue of accessibility in healthcare that affects people of all ages.