Study finds about 1 in 7 people with diabetes ration medicine due to cost

Almost 1 in 7 adults with diabetes did not take their medication as prescribed because of its cost, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday. 

The survey found that 13.2 percent of adults with diabetes either skipped a dose, took less medicine or delayed filling a prescription because of cost. That can be deadly for people with diabetes who need insulin to survive. 

{mosads}The high cost of insulin has been one of the leading examples cited by advocates for lowering drug prices. 

In addition, the survey found that 24.4 percent of adults with diabetes asked their doctor for a lower-cost prescription. 

While skipping doses was most common among uninsured people, it was reported even among some people with health insurance: 14 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 with private health insurance reported not taking their medication as prescribed because of cost. 

The death of a 27-year-old in Virginia in June who was rationing insulin because of cost is one example of the toll the affordability problem is taking. 

Members of both parties are working on legislation aimed at lowering drug prices, though Democrats are pushing Republicans to go further, and it is unclear if anything will eventually pass. 

“We should not be rationing insulin or any drugs in America,” David Mitchell, the president of Patients for Affordable Drugs, tweeted in response to the CDC data. “It’s why we fight for change.”