SAN ANTONIO — During Tuesday night's debate, President Donald Trump suggested he's reduced the price of insulin to make it as cheap as water. However, diabetes patients took to social media in disagreement.
"I'll give you an example—insulin, it was destroying families, destroying people (with) the cost. I'm getting it for so cheap, it's like water," Trump said.
But are diabetes patients in San Antonio really paying less?
The majority of Dr. Bruce Brockway's patients have the disease.
"Honestly, (I'm) not aware of any of my patients coming in and saying it is so much cheaper than it used to be, and (that) life is wonderful," said Brockway, who also sits on the board of the Texas Kidney Foundation.
Diabetes is a serious problem in our area, amounting to the fourth-leading cause of death in Bexar County.
"One in seven citizens in Bexar County have diabetes," Brockway said. "On a larger scale, more than 7 million Americans use insulin to treat it. Diabetic medications, in general, have increased something like 362% over the years."
Since he became a doctor several years ago, Brockway said the cost of insulin has skyrocketed.
"Estimates being around $300 a vial," he said. "Individuals may require two to three vials a month. So, you are looking at potentially $600 to $900."
Starting next year, seniors can sign up for a Medicare plan that will cap their co-payments for insulin at $35, as part of a deal President Trump passed earlier this year. According to the White House, more than 3 million people on Medicare use insulin to control their diabetes.