Interesting points, all.

And I’m sure Medco execs would agree that costs are rising for any number of reasons, stated and otherwise. And that’s why they push the generic option with reports such as this.

Thanks for writing in,

ed

You know I couldn’t let this pass. Yes, numbers of diabetics are increasing (mostly Type 2 patients), but Pharma is adding to the expensiveness of this disease by several mechanisms.

(1) They are creating labels like pre-diabetes (and then advising doctors to intervene early). This adds unknowable numbers to the “epidemic” (and the profitability).

(2) They are witnessing “insulin resistance” (perhaps as a result of 20+ years of rDNA genetically-engineered usage) and are creating new terminology–Type 3 or Type 1-1/2–suggesting add-on treatments. Insulin users may now be told to “consume pill-form antiglycemics in addition to insulin; and Type 2’s are being switched to insulin-analogs earlier in their treatment protocols, or encouranged to use insulin IN ADDITION to other medications.

(3) Pharma funds the studies that state “tight control” is the be-all, end-all for reduction in diabetic complications. The ONLY way to maintain tight control is to “test, and test often.” Some diabetics who seek to maintain such control may consume 15 or more test strips daily (at $1/strip). Do the math. The test strip business–without including cost of monitors–is a multi BILLION dollar/year business.

(4) And finally, each new “improvement” in insulin-like analogs are never compared to the old natural products in terms of efficacy, safety or COST! (By the way, natural insulins have been withdrawn from the U.S. market but remain available to other industrializaed nations) Why? So consumers will believe the myth that ONLY by maintaining obscene profits can pharma develop “new and better” products.