Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.

By Quinn Nystrom

Just over a year ago, I welcomed a beautiful baby boy. My OB told me afterward that I was his “Lowest risk, highest risk patient.” Though I accept that as a compliment, it’s also much more complicated than just a thank you for the compliment.

In 2025, the nearly 30 million Americans who’ve been diagnosed with diabetes should have access to affordable and accessible health care. However, the current situation is dire. Diabetes is not just a health issue; it’s a financial burden, and it’s high time we address it. It’s currently the most expensive chronic disease in the country, and we can’t afford to wait any longer to make a change.

Diabetes Advancements:

1921 – Insulin discovered

1970’s – First commercial insulin pump

1980’s – First take-home blood glucose system

1990’s – Fast-acting insulins were found, and the first Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

 

What populations are at the most significant risk for type 1 diabetes?

· Non-Hispanic white adolescents have the highest prevalence, but there’s been a rise in minority populations with T1D

· Age: T1D primarily develops in children, teens, or young adults, with two noticeable peaks at ages 4–7 and 10–14.

· Having a sibling or parent with type 1 diabetes

· Other autoimmune diagnoses or viruses can increase

 

What populations are at the most significant risk for type 2 diabetes?

· American Indian and Alaska Native adults

· No high school diploma

· Located in a food desert

· Impoverished

· Lack of access to healthcare

· Living in nonmetropolitan areas

 

The most recent National Health Interview Survey reported that 1.3 million Americans ration their insulin. Let that sink in. A medication discovered over 100 years ago, patent sold for $1, costs companies roughly $6 to manufacture and has soared to over $300 a vial. Though progress has been made to assist people in affording insulin, we are still a long way from making insulin, my life support, affordable and accessible to the 7.5 million Americans who rely on it. In the past 20 years, there have been incredible advancements in how a person with diabetes manages the disease. Still, our broken healthcare system has added to the challenges of trying to get all people with diabetes on the best treatment plan in combination with what they can afford or access.

“Financial toxicity is when medical expenses begin to negatively affect all areas of a patient’s life, impacting both their physical and mental health.” -Evan Reynolds, Ph. D.

What are things we can all do to help with injustice?

1. Speak out to friends or post on social media about the high costs of lifesaving medications (we need to continue to raise awareness)

2. If someone you know has diabetes, regardless of their blood sugar or lab results, don’t make a snap judgment on how “well or not well” they are doing at management. Instead, offer to help with tasks that may be challenging due to their condition or be a supportive listener. There can be financial reasons, along with burnout.

3. Reach out to organizations like T1International, which advocates for accessible and affordable healthcare for people with diabetes who don’t receive industry funding. Your voice matters, and by joining these advocacy groups, you can be part of the solution. Together, we can make a difference.

4. If you live with diabetes, please know that you are not alone. This disease is exhausting and unrelenting, and you don’t get a day off. But some people understand your situation and would love to support you. Find good support on social media, a psychologist with a background in chronic illness, and/or diabetes conferences or meetups. You are not alone in this fight.

As I work to send out my son’s first birthday invitations this week, I am reminded of how privileged I am. I had a healthy pregnancy with a healthy boy because my husband has excellent health insurance and a steady job. We’re middle class and are able to afford all the latest and greatest technology to help me manage my blood sugars. My hope for 2025 is that we continue to work as a country so everyone has equal rights and access.