Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Senior Thesis

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Primary Major

Nursing

Primary Minor

Public Health

Thesis Advisor

Patricia Harris, PhD, RN, CNS

Abstract

Background

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas may not be able to produce little to no insulin. This type of diabetes can be attributed to some factors such as age, family history, environmental factors or types of viruses. It is seen more often in children or adolescence but can develop in adults, averaging approximately 5-10% of the population.

Insulin is a type of hormone produced in the pancreas naturally or can be manufactured in the laboratory. People with Type 1 Diabetes need insulin from an exogenous source to survive. Due to the increased need for insulin and the ability to mass produce multiple types of insulin, there is a rising cost in the United States. Since pharmaceutical manufacturers do not have price limitations or direct competition in the insulin market, they can price their products at any desired level. In equivalent, costs of diabetes medication costs have increased following the insulin influx demand.

Objective

This thesis will explore ways to reach, educate the population and provide cost effective insulin and medications for diabetics. Establishing accessibility would aid in an increase of safety and self-management of the disease process and possibly decrease rates of deaths associated with diabetes.

Summary of Findings

Through review of different research types, there were common trends regarding the major inflation of insulin costs to difficulty of accessibility of goods. Difficulty of accessibility can also be attributed to poor health literacy, communication or if there were disagreements with healthcare goals of the patient. In addition, an underlying strength of all these studies was participation of varied ages, genders, races and socioeconomic standing.

Proposal

We want to examine the impact of the rising costs of insulin on patients’ ability to manage their Type 1 diabetes, specifically looking at the effects it has on lower socioeconomic regions.

**This piece will divulge into a thesis and literature review with provided research

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