A Journey Through the Diabetes Medication Saga

Insulin Triumphs, Controversies, and Entanglement With Big Pharma 

Diabetes, once a mysterious and fatal condition, has become one of the world's most significant health challenges, affecting over 500 million people globally. Throughout history, humanity's understanding and management of the disease have evolved dramatically.

Now diabetes, once a near-certain death sentence, has a life-saving treatment
Credit: agamatrix.com

What began with rudimentary knowledge and ineffective treatments has now grown into a sophisticated, multi-billion-dollar industry with its own set of triumphs, ethical dilemmas, and, like any great medical journey, the road to managing diabetes has been paved with triumphs, setbacks, and no shortage of drama. From starvation diets and miracle cures to Nobel Prize disputes and modern-day price gouging, the story of diabetes medication is nothing short of a saga. controversies. This journey through diabetes management is much more than a series of medical advancements. It is a saga—full of hope, disputes, and the inevitable involvement of Big Pharma. From the early days of starvation diets to the life-changing discovery of insulin, followed by the recent controversies around drug pricing, this is the story of how diabetes became one of the most contentious medical fields today. Hold onto your lancets—we’re in for a wild ride.

Early History of Diabetes Management: Primitive Approaches and Controversies

Ancient Understandings and Treatments

Long before insulin injections and oral medications, diabetes was known as the "honey urine" disease—a somewhat poetic but grim description and- yes, people would literally taste urine to diagnose diabetes. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Indians observed that ants seemed unusually drawn to the urine of people with diabetes.

A 3rd Dynasty Egyptian papyrus that mentioned 

"honey urine" as a symptom

Credit: thediabeticshow.com

Physicians like Aretaeus of Cappadocia (2nd century AD) described it as a "melting down of flesh and limbs into urine," an observation that was both vivid and devastating for its victims. Treatments in these early days were, unsurprisingly, primitive. In ancient India, Ayurvedic practitioners used a combination of herbal remedies and diet modifications, while Greek physicians attempted to manage symptoms with a blend of exercise and wine and, well, prayer. None of these strategies did much more than slow the inevitable. 

Starvation Diets: A Desperate Measure

Fast forward to the 19th century, and things still hadn’t progressed much—enter the "starvation diet." Promoted by physicians like Dr. Frederick Allen, this method placed diabetic patients on severely restrictive diets, often limiting them to just a few hundred calories a day. The logic was simple: If you can’t process glucose, why not eliminate glucose from the diet altogether? It seemed brilliant, right? Sure, if you’re okay with slowly starving to death. The reality? Starvation, malnutrition, and, needles to say, death. The “success” of this treatment was relative: patients lived a bit longer but were often malnourished and suffering.

The so-called "treatment" was the real controversy here. While the medical community of the time praised these starvation protocols, critics raised concerns about the ethics of prescribing near-total starvation. The question that loomed was: Are we prolonging life or prolonging suffering? Either way, the future of diabetes care had to change—and change it did.

Come the 1800s and desperation met opportunism as charlatans and quack doctors swooped in with so-called miracle cures. From tonics promising miraculous recoveries to treatments involving opium (yes, that happened), the snake oil industry thrived on patients' hope and suffering.

The wacky world of medicinal cures

in the 1800s.

Credit: www.notesfromthefrontier.com

While legitimate science groped in the dark, opportunists cashed in, often leaving patients worse off than they started. These missteps paved the way for the medical establishment to tighten regulations in the future—although the tug-of-war between profit and patient welfare was only just beginning.

The Discovery of Insulin: A Miracle Amidst Struggle and Dispute (1921)

The Groundbreaking Discovery

The early 20th century was a time of medical breakthroughs, and nowhere was this more evident than in the case of diabetes. The breakthrough came in 1921, when Canadian surgeon Dr. Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best—along with biochemist James Collip and professor John Macleod—isolated insulin, the hormone that would forever change the management of Diabetes, from a dog’s pancreas. Now diabetes, once a near-certain death sentence, had a life-saving treatment. Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old boy dying from diabetes in a Toronto hospital, became the first person to receive an injection of insulin on January 11th, 1922.

Leonard Thompson: The first person to receive an injection of insulin 

Credit: Diabetes Australia

While the first attempt resulted in an allergic reaction, the second dose was refined and a miraculous thing happened: his blood sugar levels dropped, and the wasting disease that had ravaged him was halted. His recovery within 24 hours was nothing short of miraculous. Leonard lived. Not just survived—he lived. 

It was, undoubtedly, one of the greatest medical triumphs of the 20th century. But like any good story, there was conflict. The Nobel Prize controversy surrounding insulin is almost as famous as the discovery itself. In 1923, Banting and Prof. Macleod received the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine, much to the chagrin of Banting, who, in a characteristically Canadian act of protest, believed that his assistant Charles Best and biochemist James Collip were equally deserving of recognition. Banting split his prize money with Best, and, consequently, with a bruised ego, Prof. Macleod shared his with Collip. Clearly, even scientific genius doesn’t keep you safe from workplace drama. 

Banting, Best, Macleod and Collip

Credit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com

While the discovery was a breakthrough, producing insulin on a large scale was another matter entirely. Although the medical firm Eli Lilly started large-scale production of insulin, it wasn’t perfect. The firm derived it from the pancreases of cows and pigs, resulting in inconsistent quality and supply shortages. Some patients experienced allergic reactions, and the process of refining the hormone was still in its infancy. Yet, even as these production challenges mounted, insulin brought hope to countless patients for the first time.

As insulin’s potential became clear, a debate emerged over who should control its production and distribution. Banting and Best were adamant that insulin should be available to all, free from profiteering. They famously sold the patent for just $1 to the University of Toronto, believing that no one should own the rights to life-saving medicine. Nevertheless, as the pharmaceutical industry took over production, the price of insulin became a key point of contention—a conflict that would haunt the medical world for decades to come.

The Evolution of Diabetes Medications: Innovations and New Controversies

Fast forward to the late '70s and throughout the '80s, scientists developed synthetic human insulin using recombinant DNA technology in E. coli bacteria to produce the hormone— goodbye, pig and cow insulin!—followed by analog insulins (short-acting, long-acting, rapid-acting), that allowed for more precise blood sugar control. These advancements were significant—insulin could now be tailored to individual needs, offering improved quality of life for patients. However, with every leap forward came a hefty price tag. The more advanced the insulin, the higher the cost, leading to a growing accessibility gap. Technological innovations like insulin pumps and pens further simplified the lives of those with diabetes, but their convenience came at a cost. As these tools entered the market, questions about affordability arose, particularly in lower-income populations where access to even basic insulin was becoming more difficult. While insulin remained crucial for those with Type 1 diabetes, the emergence of oral medications like sulfonylureas (1940s) and metformin (1950s) revolutionized the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

For millions of patients, these drugs offered an alternative to insulin injections, allowing them to manage their condition more easily. Yet, oral medications were not without their own controversies. Early versions of sulfonylureas were found to cause dangerous episodes of hypoglycemia. Pharmaceutical companies, accused of focusing more on profits than on patient safety, were slow to make the necessary adjustments. As a result, the saga of drug safety versus corporate interests began to take center stage.

Modern Medications and Big Pharma's Role

In recent years, new classes of drugs like GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors have transformed diabetes treatment once again. These drugs offer unprecedented control over blood sugar levels and even some additional benefits, like weight loss and improved cardiovascular health. But here we are again—these medications come with a price so high that they are often out of reach for the average patient. Pharmaceutical companies have been accused of "evergreening," a tactic where they make minor modifications to existing drugs to extend patents and keep prices high. This practice has stifled the entry of cheaper generics, creating a monopoly-like situation that continues to fuel public outrage.

Big Pharma, Insulin Pricing, and Ethical Dilemmas: The Modern Controversy

Skyrocketing Insulin Prices

In the U.S., where insulin prices have skyrocketed to astronomical levels, patients are forced to make impossible decisions—ration their insulin, switch to older and less effective formulations, or face medical bankruptcy. Major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk control the insulin market, and their pricing strategies have drawn fierce criticism. 

Studies show that diabetes medications like GLP-1s (e.g., Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Trulicity) are priced at up to 400 times their manufacturing cost. For instance GLP-1s could be sold profitably for $0.89/month, yet current prices range from $38.21 to $353.74.

Study:Ozempic and Trulicity are priced at up to 400x

their manufacturing cost

Similarly, insulin pens, which could be profitable at $0.94, are sold for up to $90.69. This pricing makes diabetes management unaffordable globally and underscores Big Pharma’s prioritization of profits over accessibility. In their defense, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk argue that their supply is limited and they have initiatives to increase accessibility, but why shouldn't they relinquish control and allow more manufacturers to meet global demand instead of prioritizing profits?

The consequences of high prices are tragic. Stories of patients rationing insulin and dying as a result have made headlines, fueling outrage against Big Pharma. The tragic saga of lives lost to insulin rationing exposes the ethical failings of a system that places profits above people’s right to life-saving medication. 

The "Patented Life" Debate

Should life-saving medications like insulin be patentable? This question lies at the heart of legal and ethical debates surrounding the pharmaceutical industry. Patent protections, designed to reward innovation, also grant companies monopolies on drug production, allowing them to dictate prices without competition. Legal battles have ensued, with class-action lawsuits accusing insulin manufacturers of price gouging and collusion. 

Conspiracy Theories

Big Pharma and the Cure- An inevitable side-effect of Big Pharma's behavior is the rise of conspiracy theories. Many argue that pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to find a "cure" for diabetes because it would cut off their revenue stream from diabetes management drugs. While there is no credible evidence to support these claims, the shadow of corporate greed continues to loom large in public discourse. 

One thing is certain: Insulin is a medical marvel in the world of diabetes but....

While there’s no denying that medical breakthroughs have transformed diabetes management, the ethical challenges surrounding accessibility and pricing remain. How do we ensure that life-saving medications are both innovative and affordable? The future of diabetes care must include greater regulation of drug pricing, more transparency in pharmaceutical practices, and a shift in focus from profit margins to patient welfare. Advocacy for government intervention, like price caps and the promotion of generic drugs, is crucial to leveling the playing field for patients who rely on these medications for survival.

_____________________________________________

While the history of diabetes medications showcases a journey of trial, discovery, and triumphs of insulin, achieving optimal blood sugar levels still remains a challenge for many. Thus, finding the right support is essential for maintaining stable blood sugar levels. That’s where Sugar Defender, a purely organic all-in-one health super-supplement for diabetes management, steps in.

Sugar Defender: a purely organic diabetes management supplement

Why do I recommend it?

In every drop of Sugar Defender supplement that you incorporate with your medical regimen, you’ll find a blend of carefully selected ingredients designed to support your diabetes management journey, overall health, and well-being. The ingredients include:
-Eleuthero: Increases Energy and Reduces Fatigue.
-Coleus: Fat Burning Aid.
-Maca Root: Boosts Your Energy.
-African Mango: Fat Burning Agent.
-Guarana: Stimulates Your Metabolism.
-Gymnema: Supports Healthy Heart & Blood Sugar.
-Ginseng: Supports Healthy Blood Glucose.
-Chromium: Body Fat Burner & Lowers Blood Pressure.

Moreover, this link offers flexible purchasing options to suit your needs:

Sugar Defender: The 180-day supply offers the best value for money

For long-term support, the 180-day supply offers the best value for money, offering the lowest price per bottle. It ensures you don’t run out, giving you consistent support for six months. Get it here for free delivery!