I Had to Bury My 26-Year-Old Son Because He Couldn't Afford Insulin
NOVANEWS
By Nicole Smith-Holt
(Photo: Hero Images / Getty Images)
On June 27, 2017, my son Alec was found dead, alone in his Minneapolis apartment. It shouldn't have happened.
Alec had Type 1 diabetes, a serious condition that is manageable with access to insulin and proper supplies. But Alec turned 26 years old on May 20 of last year, which meant that his coverage under my health insurance policy ended a few days later. Alec had a full-time, steady job. But, like a lot of US workers, he did not have good health insurance offered through his employer.
For Alec and others with diabetes, this presents a deadly situation. Many people with type 2 diabetes need regular access to insulin to live; all persons with Type 1 do. Insulin is a 95-year-old drug whose discoverers sold their patents f...