• evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      The point it seems like they are trying to make (and I have only read up till the paywall) is that there are multiple forms of insulin, and newer versions basically work better. Many people are getting the newer, better drugs, but having to ration them because of how expensive they are. If plain, old insulin becomes cheap enough such that people switch to it (critically, without some extra effort by our healthcare system), a percentage of people will end up dying. Managing diabetes is all about keeping blood glucose stable, and that is asier to do with the modern stuff.

      They retitled the article to “Making Insulin Cheaper Isn’t Enough”, which i think is a much better headline.

      And again, I could only read up till the paywall, so i could be giving them too much credit.

      • Shirasho@lemmings.world
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        7 months ago

        The fact they changed the headline is itself praiseworthy, but the fact it was click bait and sensationalist to begin counters it.

        The point about making the older stuff cheaper is something that isn’t mentioned as much as it should be in these debates.

        Ultimately even if the older stuff is worse and requires more attention and monitoring (less convenient), it is still better than nothing.

        • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Someone posted a link to the full text. Looks like their main point is that for most people with diabetes (who have type 2), insulin of any form isn’t the best first line treatment, things like glp-1 receptor agonists (e.g., ozempic) work way better, but since it’s not “insulin” it’s not covered.

          I’m guessing the editors of the Atlantic gave it the original bad headline, cause it seems like the author is genuine.