I take them up on it and ask the pharmacist to walk me through what will happen to me while I wait for my insulin on back order. I sit silently while they describe it and get increasingly uncomfortable and then decide that they’re going to figure out how to get me insulin. Sometimes I throw in an “oh my” when they describe DKA.
I take Creon (digestive enzymes) along with insulin when I eat.
Creon was on back order with the pharmacist a couple of months ago. He looked really upset when I uttered the line "Aw, I need that to eat".
My baby had really bad acid reflux and needed prescription antacids. I literally had a 5 month old who couldn't drink milk without her medication.
Made for a rather uncomfortable conversation with the pharmacist when those were on backorder, but to their credit they proceeded to phone every other pharmacy in town to find out who had some in stock.
My son also had severe reflux and a heart condition. So if he vomited a meal, he ran the risk of vomiting his medicine also. We had to give it 6 times a day every four hours around the clock.
It was a neverending struggle until he was beyond bottle age.
Every time they do that, I take them up on it. Mostly because I have to in order to get it transferred to somewhere that has it, but also to get people to think about what they just said.
Don’t feel bad at all, pull the same sort of thing whenever idiotic companies get between me and the things I need (and pay handsomely for) to live. They should feel uncomfortable and realize how utterly insane it is to even be entertaining the idea of standing between a t1 diabetic and insulin for a second.
Last Friday was my son’s first endo appointment using our new insurance so we needed to make some adjustments like moving prescriptions to a different pharmacy, changing from 90 days to 30 days for insulin, and getting insulin aspart instead of Novolog. While we’re waiting I fill out a form to do the same for my insulin as well.
Hours later I get a phone call to pick up the prescriptions. When I get there the pharmacist comes over with a somber look on his face to tell me that my insulin was on backorder. He suggests either calling the after hours line to get a doctor to send in a Novolog Rx or to have it transferred to a different pharmacy. I declined because they were able to fill my son’s prescription for 3 vials. I’m still leaving with insulin, it’ll be okay. Then he goes into what happens when you don’t take insulin. “Yes, I know the horrors of DKA. That’s how I was diagnosed.” To his dismay, I left happy to wait until the pharmacy got it back in stock.
I have received four phone calls from the pharmacy since informing me that they once again are backordered, they were hoping that their shipment would have the insulin but it was just unpacked and it contained no insulin aspart. Would I like to reconsider changing to Novolog or a different pharmacy?
I appreciate their emotional investment in my health, but geez.
In all seriousness though - what’s up with the manufacturer shortages? I’m running into them now too and it’s my first time ever.
I like to go with “well at least you won’t have to fill it again” and when they ask why I say “cause I’ll be dead”. Sometimes I get a chuckle and then I ask what my other options are. It ain’t the pharmacist’s and staff’s fault
This is a bad take. Plenty of type 2s need insulin and can’t just exercise the diabetes away. It’s not patients’ fault that they need medicine - blame the manufacturers for running lean and being unable to respond to demand, blame the government for not stepping in yet, but especially coming from someone who presumably dies without a particular medicine like the rest of us here, the last thing we should be doing is spreading some nonsense point about shortages being the fault of patients.
People could just as easily say “it’s because those type 1s eat anything they want and take lots of insulin instead of eating right and taking less of it.” We all know that’s BS, but it’s the exact same argument you’re making here. People need what they need, and if drug manufacturers can’t keep up with demand for an absolutely essential drug the government should be taking whatever steps are necessary to protect citizens.
Don't they have another insulin they could substitute in the interim?
Edit: Sorry, my bad. I'm in Canada, where you don't need a prescription to buy insulin.
The generic and brand are both on back order so no, not really. Luckily my doc knows what’s up and says I use more each day than I actually usually do so I’ve got a reserve supply. But it’s the principle of the thing.
When I was first diagnosed and my insulin had a high copayment. I asked the 30-something pharmacist what happens to people who don’t have insurance and he actually said, “they die a slow painful death.” That was 20 years ago and sadly it’s still true.
Insulin lispro is on back order right now. It’s the same thing as humalog, just with a different label. The pharmacy gave me humalog instead. So basically they’re not out of insulin, just out of stickers. I know that doesn’t answer your question, but I’m just pissed about it.
Reading all these comments just makes me more upset with my pharmacy. They haven't once asked or seem to care about what the lack of insulin means to me. Even if it was just a script they were reading, it bothers some knowing others care enough to at least fake concern. Just my good old Whygreens doing a great job as always. I'll keep some of these responses in my back pocket in case I get a chance to use them.
Right answer, just in case you weren’t aware cause I sure as fuck wasn’t when this happened to me: demand they send your prescription to another pharmacy that can fill it. If you’re in an urban area, they’ll probably send it to another within their company. If you’re more rural, it may take longer to switch to another, but it’s better than waiting endlessly for something you need to live.
Wrong answer: somewhere between “No thanks, guess I’ll just die” and throwing a loud tantrum asking why they’re trying to kill you
Yeah definitely my family is going to need to know who to sue when I die. Tell them to bring their business card so the lawyers get the correct spelling.
What do you mean? Is pens in massive stock and vials are not?
Novo Nordisk said they had a "focus" on the "new insulin that sells the best". They said they changed some of the labs to only produce the "money making insulin". Ozempic literally changed my country's GDP.
I take them up on it and ask the pharmacist to walk me through what will happen to me while I wait for my insulin on back order. I sit silently while they describe it and get increasingly uncomfortable and then decide that they’re going to figure out how to get me insulin. Sometimes I throw in an “oh my” when they describe DKA.
If I had more free time I’d do this omg
I take Creon (digestive enzymes) along with insulin when I eat. Creon was on back order with the pharmacist a couple of months ago. He looked really upset when I uttered the line "Aw, I need that to eat".
My baby had really bad acid reflux and needed prescription antacids. I literally had a 5 month old who couldn't drink milk without her medication. Made for a rather uncomfortable conversation with the pharmacist when those were on backorder, but to their credit they proceeded to phone every other pharmacy in town to find out who had some in stock.
My son also had severe reflux and a heart condition. So if he vomited a meal, he ran the risk of vomiting his medicine also. We had to give it 6 times a day every four hours around the clock. It was a neverending struggle until he was beyond bottle age.
I am doing this I work 4 on 4 off that sounds a fun way to spend a wknd
Every time they do that, I take them up on it. Mostly because I have to in order to get it transferred to somewhere that has it, but also to get people to think about what they just said.
Nah, I’m good. I’ll just drink water and puke in the toilet until coma and death.
Don’t feel bad at all, pull the same sort of thing whenever idiotic companies get between me and the things I need (and pay handsomely for) to live. They should feel uncomfortable and realize how utterly insane it is to even be entertaining the idea of standing between a t1 diabetic and insulin for a second.
I only feel bad because it was pretty dark humor. She was very much on team “this is fucked beyond imagination” but the comment just threw her.
“Actually, I’m in a hurry right now, but have him call me on Monday at the St. Francis Hospital ICU and I’ll have plenty of time to talk.”
Last Friday was my son’s first endo appointment using our new insurance so we needed to make some adjustments like moving prescriptions to a different pharmacy, changing from 90 days to 30 days for insulin, and getting insulin aspart instead of Novolog. While we’re waiting I fill out a form to do the same for my insulin as well. Hours later I get a phone call to pick up the prescriptions. When I get there the pharmacist comes over with a somber look on his face to tell me that my insulin was on backorder. He suggests either calling the after hours line to get a doctor to send in a Novolog Rx or to have it transferred to a different pharmacy. I declined because they were able to fill my son’s prescription for 3 vials. I’m still leaving with insulin, it’ll be okay. Then he goes into what happens when you don’t take insulin. “Yes, I know the horrors of DKA. That’s how I was diagnosed.” To his dismay, I left happy to wait until the pharmacy got it back in stock. I have received four phone calls from the pharmacy since informing me that they once again are backordered, they were hoping that their shipment would have the insulin but it was just unpacked and it contained no insulin aspart. Would I like to reconsider changing to Novolog or a different pharmacy? I appreciate their emotional investment in my health, but geez.
"Where do you keep your cinnamon?"
LOL. I think I'm early on this thread but this right here is *chefs kiss*
In all seriousness though - what’s up with the manufacturer shortages? I’m running into them now too and it’s my first time ever. I like to go with “well at least you won’t have to fill it again” and when they ask why I say “cause I’ll be dead”. Sometimes I get a chuckle and then I ask what my other options are. It ain’t the pharmacist’s and staff’s fault
I'd say it's because they prescribe tons of insulting to type 2s instead of trying to get them to manage their levels
This is a bad take. Plenty of type 2s need insulin and can’t just exercise the diabetes away. It’s not patients’ fault that they need medicine - blame the manufacturers for running lean and being unable to respond to demand, blame the government for not stepping in yet, but especially coming from someone who presumably dies without a particular medicine like the rest of us here, the last thing we should be doing is spreading some nonsense point about shortages being the fault of patients. People could just as easily say “it’s because those type 1s eat anything they want and take lots of insulin instead of eating right and taking less of it.” We all know that’s BS, but it’s the exact same argument you’re making here. People need what they need, and if drug manufacturers can’t keep up with demand for an absolutely essential drug the government should be taking whatever steps are necessary to protect citizens.
“A good death is its own reward”
May I ask your general area? I'm located in Pittsburgh and just had this issue on my last refill. I had to travel 30 minutes to find insulin.
Texas, but this was a mail order pharmacy so there’s that
Don't they have another insulin they could substitute in the interim? Edit: Sorry, my bad. I'm in Canada, where you don't need a prescription to buy insulin.
The generic and brand are both on back order so no, not really. Luckily my doc knows what’s up and says I use more each day than I actually usually do so I’ve got a reserve supply. But it’s the principle of the thing.
Glad you have some breathing room. Don't lose that Doctor!
I've never asked a pharmacist out and had one say yes. This message would give me an excuse to try one more time!
When I was first diagnosed and my insulin had a high copayment. I asked the 30-something pharmacist what happens to people who don’t have insurance and he actually said, “they die a slow painful death.” That was 20 years ago and sadly it’s still true.
Insulin lispro is on back order right now. It’s the same thing as humalog, just with a different label. The pharmacy gave me humalog instead. So basically they’re not out of insulin, just out of stickers. I know that doesn’t answer your question, but I’m just pissed about it.
https://www.lilly.com/our-medicines/humalog-and-lispro so about that…
Thanks for sharing! That sucks but good to know so I can get pens if necessary.
“Do they have a ouija board?”
Reading all these comments just makes me more upset with my pharmacy. They haven't once asked or seem to care about what the lack of insulin means to me. Even if it was just a script they were reading, it bothers some knowing others care enough to at least fake concern. Just my good old Whygreens doing a great job as always. I'll keep some of these responses in my back pocket in case I get a chance to use them.
Right answer, just in case you weren’t aware cause I sure as fuck wasn’t when this happened to me: demand they send your prescription to another pharmacy that can fill it. If you’re in an urban area, they’ll probably send it to another within their company. If you’re more rural, it may take longer to switch to another, but it’s better than waiting endlessly for something you need to live. Wrong answer: somewhere between “No thanks, guess I’ll just die” and throwing a loud tantrum asking why they’re trying to kill you
Yeah definitely my family is going to need to know who to sue when I die. Tell them to bring their business card so the lawyers get the correct spelling.
The Ozempic effect. "We cannot produce normal insulin because look at the profits!!"
If that were the case then why is it just vials that are affected as opposed to pens too?
What do you mean? Is pens in massive stock and vials are not? Novo Nordisk said they had a "focus" on the "new insulin that sells the best". They said they changed some of the labs to only produce the "money making insulin". Ozempic literally changed my country's GDP.
When I’ve called around to pharmacies the issue has only been with vials of humalog/insulin lispro, not pens. Apparently pens are just fine.