If Not Now, When?

Advocates are working this November 14 to highlight some of the fundamental components of diabetes care and access:

• Insulin accessibility. Millions of people are still unable to access the insulin they need to manage and treat their diabetes. As many as 1 in 2 people who need insulin are not able to access or afford it.
• Oral medicine availability. More than three in four people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries, where the oral medications needed to manage the condition remain unavailable or unaffordable.
• Ability to self-monitor. Patients with diabetes need to regularly monitor blood glucose levels to ensure proper management and treatment. Yet the tools and equipment needed for monitoring remain out of reach for many.
• Education and psychological support. Education for patients and families can be extremely important in helping them to answer questions, understand their situation and recognize that they are not alone. These necessary educational resources, however, are not always accessible for those who need them.
• Healthy food and a safe place to exercise. A fundamental part of diabetes care and management is access to healthy food and a safe place to exercise. Many patients still lack these critical components.

This year marks an important landmark in diabetes care and treatment: 100 years since the discovery of insulin. Yet advances in medicine are overshadowed by the widespread barriers that persist for people living with diabetes.

Advocates say they cannot wait any longer, a message that policymakers would do well to heed. People across the world need access to diabetes care and treatment, and they need it now.