Why Are Insulin Prices Still So High for U.S. Patients?

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6, 2019 -- Nearly a century ago, Dr. Frederick Banting discovered lifesaving insulin, but skyrocketing prices are putting the drug out of reach for many he sought to help.

The average price of insulin nearly tripled between 2002 and 2013 in the United States, according to an American Diabetes Association study. Yet other countries pay significantly less. In fact, Americans pay more than 10 times as much for insulin as Canadians do, according to a commentary published in the Nov. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Could a Pill Replace Insulin Shots?

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 -- Many people with diabetes have to inject themselves with insulin at least once a day, but new animal research suggests a pill may one day do the trick.

This experimental pill can withstand the trip through the gastrointestinal tract, scientists report. When it gets to the small intestine, it breaks down into dissolving microneedles that attach to the intestinal wall and release the drug into the bloodstream.

Just a Little Weight Loss Can Put Diabetes Into Remission

FRIDAY, Oct. 4, 2019 -- British researchers have good news for people with type 2 diabetes -- you don't need to lose a ton of weight to make a difference in your health.

In fact, they found that losing just 10% of your body weight during the first five years you have the disease can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes. That weight loss would be 18 pounds for someone who weighs 180 pounds.

Keeping Blood Sugar Steady Helps You Live Longer With Diabetes

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 -- If you have type 2 diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels stable over time may be key to living longer.

New research finds that people who have more swings in their blood sugar levels were more than twice as likely to die early, compared to folks with more stable blood sugar management.

Older Diabetics May Be Getting Too Much Insulin

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25, 2019 -- Are elderly people with diabetes being overtreated?

A new study suggests that's so: Older, sicker patients tend to be the ones most likely to still be using insulin to manage their blood sugar, despite guidelines that suggest it's often safer to lower diabetes treatment intensity with age.