MIDLAND, Texas — The national insulin shortage has been affecting diabetics across the country, and it has started to hit a little closer to home. Some people in West Texas have been having issues with getting the prescriptions they need.
Insulin is made naturally in the human body from the pancreas and helps break down the carbs and sugars in food.
“For some people unfortunately, the insulin the pancreas makes is not good enough or not enough or the pancreas is not making any insulin," Dr. Madhavi Gadiraju of Midland Memorial Hospital said. "That tells us what type of diabetes they are.”
When this happens, doctors can usually pinpoint some telltale signs that they can use to diagnose somebody with diabetes.
“The most common symptoms for Type 1 diabetes is that they lose weight drastically," Dr. Gadiraju said. "They are more irritable, they are more thirsty, they are more hungry, they have to pee a lot and they're prone to infections.”
If a diabetic isn't able to take in the proper amount of insulin, whether naturally or through medication, then there are some extra side effects that can happen.
"It also means that you're constantly nauseous. I can't sleep at night. I get body aches and it's hard to get out of bed," Elisabeth Geddes, a Type-1 diabetic, said. "You don't realize how much sugar affects every part of your life. I don't have quality of life if I do not have insulin, and it takes less than a day for these effects to start."
The insulin shortage has been hitting diabetics hard, making many have to jump through hoops just to get what they need.
“It was never an issue before. I could call and get my insulin within a day before," Geddes said. "Starting last year, it has taken upwards of six to seven calls every single time.”
The shortage has been caused mostly by manufacturing issues. Companies such as Eli Lilly say they will be having brief shortages while they try and fix the issues.
“The major issue on the pharmaceutical company [like Eli] Lilly has announced the last week of March that there is going to be a short brief period of shortage for their ten ml. vials," Dr. Gadiraju said.
While there are different types of diabetics who need different doses and have varying symptoms, they all need some type of treatment for their diabetes.
“I know a lot of diabetics in the Midland-Odessa area and it's a common issue," Geddes said. "It's scary to know that people like me, who are doing everything right, are having their lives put in danger.”
Because even if they do everything right, sometimes it just isn’t enough.
“You can call in that prescription as soon as you possibly can. You know that the pharmacists don't want to turn you down," Geddes said. "You are doing everything as the consumer that you can and you're still being told, but you might die and that's scary.”
Dr. Gadiraju said people should have at least a month’s supply ready to go and try to have a little extra, just in case they run out. She also told NewsWest 9 that Eli Lilly is hoping to have their supply issues sorted out by sometime after April.