this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2025
1475 points (99.3% liked)
Science Memes
17442 readers
3527 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Is there any reason a diabetic has to get the newer patented formulas instead of the old one that the pic talks about which is regularly sold for around $25 a vial in the US without insurance?
I know the new stuff works faster and you don't have to worry about your diet as much so I'm sure it's much easier, but why would you have to die instead of just managing your diet and using the $25 stuff for a month in this emergency situation?
Don't get me wrong all medicine should be free and stuff but like, why die instead of switching to the cheap stuff and dietary management for a month?
Insulin is not permanently shelf stable, and will still expire in the fridge.
Diabetics usually start with a long-acting insulin to keep blood sugar from naturally rising plus a fast-acting insulin for corrections and to compensate for food.
The old style of just giving 2 long-acting shots of mixed insulin is mostly obsolete, except for legacy patients, some pregnant patients, and other special cases I can only theorize.
A good number of diabetics only use fast acting insulin in a pump, receiving microdoses every minute.
To switch brands of insulin, much less therapies in any circumstance requires a doctor's visit.
With all that said, the insurance company will often replace a medication in the event of an accident, typically only once a year.
Without that, a patient might be able to find a charity they will assist them.
You also may be able to travel to the next state over where the cost of insulin is regulated.
Failing all other options, it is better to check yourself in to the hospital as your sugar begins to rise and tell them that you cannot control your blood sugar.
Ah well that's good, at least there appears to be some options.
I've heard of clandestine labs making patented insulin and selling it cheap too, and I'm all for a good grey market.
Not sure about that, and not sure if I could trust that.
Another option is to have the doctor prescribe insulin pens or another brand of the same kind of insulin. It's technically a different prescription and the insurance company usually covers it.
I don't think I ever had insurance in the US where checking into the hospital for any amount of time would cost less than $800 out of pocket.
Unless I had already reached my annual deductible, that is.
It's no longer about saving money at that point.
"Hey good news! After about 35% of your annual income is spent on medical bills on top of your triple digit monthly premiums... That health insurance starts to kick in!"
(Until it resets at the end of the year. Teehee!)
The deductible system is ridiculous.
The subs would be R and NPH, not the old mixed formulas like 70/30.
People respond wildly differently to different types of insulin and it isn't just a matter of switching and watching your diet. Too much and too little insulin can be deadly and it makes you feel like absolute shit.
Ah, so you'd need to know your dosage for that type beforehand, and if you didn't know it you can't just wing it. Still though, might be beneficial to know that for emergencies like this because it sounds preferable to certain death.
There should be a little chart your doc gives you at diagnosis (or something, spitballing here) that lays out the dosages you'd need for X, Y, and Z brands so that if say you use X and they're out (or your kid freezes it or something) you can just consult the dosage chart and get Y for now.
A unit is a unit, so the dosages are the same. What varies is onset curve and length of action, so timing.
I don't think it's a thing because even the same insulin analogue from different manufacturer can have different dosing
The old formulas you can buy OTC for $25 are more inconvenient to use, but will indeed keep you from dying. The main difference between the R insulin and Novolog/Humalog are how quickly they act. Novolog starts lowering your glucose in about 60 minutes while the R takes 2 hours. Dietary management is not related to which insulin you’re using, at least for type 1. The long acting substitute, NPH, is a lot more difficult to use than Lantus though. It still works. I ran out of good insulin on a trip last year and had to sub the R and NPH and did have some issues with hypoglycemia. I’m more qualified to swap them on my own than many people though (lots of people are not informed enough to change their dosage without professional medical advice).
So yes, the claim that OOP’s only alternative to paying $800 was to die is not true.