Share your story!

Be sure to share your name, where you're from, if you're a person living with diabetes or a caregiver, and in a short paragraph, share why you need access to rapid-acting analog insulins on the Essential Medicines List.

Here are some examples:

"As a mother in a rural village, managing my son's type 1 diabetes has been a daily challenge. We rely on regular human insulin, which requires strict meal schedules and constant monitoring. Despite our best efforts, his blood sugar levels often spike after meals, making him feel unwell and affecting his school attendance. I've heard that rapid-acting insulin analogues can control these spikes more effectively, offering a more flexible routine. However, they are not available in our local clinic, and traveling to the city to obtain them is both time-consuming and costly. Including these insulins in the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List could make them more accessible to families like ours, improving our children's health and quality of life."

"As a healthcare provider in a developing country, I see many patients struggling with the limitations of human insulin. One of my patients, a young girl with type 1 diabetes, faces frequent hypoglycemic episodes due to the unpredictable action of her insulin. Rapid-acting insulin analogues could provide her with more predictable blood sugar control and reduce these dangerous episodes. However, these medications are not part of our standard formulary and are prohibitively expensive when available. Including them in the World Health Organization's Essential Medicines List could help change this, allowing us to offer better care to our patients."

“I use human insulin, but its delayed action requires me to plan meals meticulously and endure long waiting periods before eating. This rigidity makes it difficult to manage my condition alongside work and family responsibilities. Rapid-acting insulin analogues would allow me to inject insulin just before meals, offering greater flexibility and better blood sugar control. Unfortunately, these analogues are scarce and unaffordable here. Recognizing them as essential medicines could lead to increased availability and affordability, transforming diabetes management for many in my situation."

"I have access to rapid-acting insulin analogues through my insurance. But even with coverage, the cost adds up quickly. Every time I pick up my prescription, I worry about whether my insurance will suddenly change or if I’ll hit my deductible and have to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket. I have friends who have had to switch to older insulins because they couldn’t afford their rapid-acting insulin anymore. The fact that these insulins aren’t recognized as essential by the World Health Organization only makes it harder for people around the world to access them. Everyone with type 1 diabetes should be able to use the best tools to manage their condition—not just those who can afford it.

"I’ve been using rapid-acting insulin analogues since I was diagnosed as a teenager. They help me keep my blood sugar stable, especially when my schedule is unpredictable. But even here in the U.S., affording insulin is stressful. The list prices are outrageous, and while I have insurance now, I’ve had times when my coverage changed, and I had to pay hundreds of dollars just to fill a month’s supply. I can’t imagine what it’s like for people in countries where these insulins aren’t even an option. If the World Health Organization added them to the Essential Medicines List, it could help make them more available and affordable for people everywhere. No one should have to fight just to get the insulin they need."