Intel Chain

# HEALTH: The Rising Cost of Insulin and Historical Context Insulin prices in the US have tripled since 2002, with diabetics now paying $300+ monthly despite the drug's discovery a century ago. Meanwhile, the same insulin vial costs $30-50 in Canada and European nations with price regulation. Type 2 diabetes prevalence has increased 600% globally since 1990, now affecting 422 million people, yet affordability barriers prevent medication access for roughly 25% of American diabetics. This disconnect between drug availability and accessibility directly correlates with preventable complications (amputations, blindness, kidney failure) that cost the healthcare system an estimated $327 billion annually—meaning expensive rationing now funds even more expensive emergency interventions later.