Trump Wonders If He Should Take Insulin While Announcing Plan Aiming To Reduce Pricing

President Donald Trump wondered whether he should take insulin, during his latest announcement concerning a plan to reduce the costing of the hormone, which millions of people with Type I and Type II diabetes are dependent on.

"I don't use insulin," Trump said during the briefing. "Should I be? Huh? I never thought about it. But I know a lot of people are very badly affected, right? Unbelievable."

When a reporter asked why he would take insulin, Trump passed on the question to surgeon general Jerome Adams to answer.

To the question, Adams answered by addressing Trump, “Your body, Mr. President, actually makes insulin endogenously.”

He further added that people such as him and Trump make their insulin. They do not need it from the outside since they make it themselves and utilize it.

All patients with Type I diabetes and a few with Type 2 diabetes are required to take insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in control. While in the case of Type I diabetes, the pancreas of the patient does not make insulin at all, those with Type II diabetes are not able to utilize insulin the way they should.

Although Trump has no history of being a diabetic, he still pondered is he should take the drug.

More than 30 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, out of which 5 to 10 percent are estimated to have Type I form. While people with Type I diabetes have to rely on insulin all their lives, Type II diabetics can still reduce their dependence by incorporating a healthy diet and exercising in their routine.

In his plan, Trump explained that most senior Medicare recipients will be availed prescription plans that will put a cap on the co-pay costs. With this provision, the recipient will not have to pay more than $35 co-pay for a month’s supply of insulin.

"Today I'm proud to announce that we have reached a breakthrough agreement to dramatically slash the out-of-pocket cost of insulin," Trump said. "You know what's happened to insulin over the years, right? Through the roof. I hope the seniors are going to remember it.”

According to the Health Care Cost Institute, the price of insulin has nearly doubled to $5,705 in 2016 from 2012. The rising prices of insulin have been one of the reasons why almost 50% of the people temporarily stopped taking insulin, according to a survey conducted in 2018 by a medication home delivery service provider.