• 40: A Shot at Love with Nonprofit Insulin
    Jan 21 2026

    Nonprofit pharmaceutical company Civica has released it's biosimilar version of Lantus long-acting insulin for $55 for a box of 5 pens—that's the list price it costs you to buy it without needing insurance, coupons, or patient assistance programs. We look at how a nonprofit business model can drastically lower prices for patients and governments.

    Things we talk about:

    • More info about Civica insulin and CalRx Insulin

    • CalRx Patient Advisory Council Charter

    • Episode on insulin pricing

    • Episode on co-pay cap laws

    • 119th Congress pro-healthcare scorecard

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

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    29 mins
  • 39: Battling Big Pharma
    Mar 14 2025

    Diabetics are stuck in an abusive relationship with pharmaceutical corporations: if we try to fight to make insulin more affordable, they can simply stop distributing it, leaving us without the very thing we need to survive. We look back at the last decade of insulin access advocacy to see how advocates walk the line between progress and ruin.

    Things we talk about:

    • Beta Cell Action
    • T1International

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

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    48 mins
  • The Bolus 3: Dexcom Stops Caring
    Aug 26 2024

    Dexcom's new sensor replacement policy has shown what the company cares about most: your money.

    Things we mention:

    • Dexcom's sensor replacement policy
    • Comparison of G7 and Libre 3 Accuracy
    • Write to your representatives about Dexcom's policy (from Beta Cell Action)

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

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    12 mins
  • The Bolus 2: 180 Decisions
    Mar 4 2024

    You know how they say that diabetics make an additional 180 decisions a day because of diabetes? Well, they're wrong.

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

    Things we mention:

    • 180 Decisions A Day by Cynthia D'Angelo
    • New research shows how to keep diabetics safer during sleep (Stanford Medicine)
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    6 mins
  • The Bolus 1: Gifts for Diabetics
    Jan 17 2024

    Are you wondering what to buy for someone with diabetes? Well, don't buy any of these.

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

    Things we mention:

    • 18 Thoughtful Gifts for People with Diabetes
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    5 mins
  • The Bolus: Who is The Diabetes App?
    Dec 28 2023

    Turns out The Diabetes App is getting ready to launch an IPO. Do you want to use a for profit diabetes social network?

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

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    5 mins
  • The Bolus: Letter of Resignation from Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council
    Dec 28 2023

    Beyond Type 1 has made it clear that it's no longer on the side of people living with type 1 diabetes.

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon.

    More on Beyond Type 1 (in chronological order):

    • Sierra Sandison’s resignation from the Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council
    • Craig’s letter of resignation from Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council
    • Craig and Hannah discuss Beyond Type 1 accepting money from insulin makers
    • Beyond Type 1’s attempt to stop affordable insulin in Maine
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    1 min
  • The Bolus: Sam Talbot and the Curious Case of the Donut Butt Plug
    Dec 27 2023

    Sam Talbot's fall from grace opened up a Pandora's box of hidden payments by pharma to Beyond Type 1.

    Support Beta Cell on Patreon. . More on Beyond Type 1 (in chronological order):

    • Sierra Sandison’s resignation from the Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council
    • Craig’s letter of resignation from Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council
    • Craig and Hannah discuss Beyond Type 1 accepting money from insulin makers
    • Beyond Type 1’s attempt to stop affordable insulin in Maine
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    6 mins