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How Beyond Type 1 Opposed The Insulin Safety Net Bill in Maine while we are in an Insulin Crisis
Resources regarding Beyond Type 1's partnerships with Insulin Manufacturing Companies
In 2016 Beyond Type 1 was founded on the principle that they WOULD NOT take money from Pharma companies.
In 2019 We were shocked to find out that Beyond Type 1 had started taking money from Pharmaceutical companies and had not disclosed this information.
In 2020 When they finally owned up and disclosed their funding model which showed the pharma companies they were taking money from, they said:
“The Organization’s position is that these partnerships do not eliminate the ability to put pressure on these same companies related to insulin affordability and access, and such partnerships can create unique opportunities to drive change.”
In October 2020, Beyond Type 1 created a website, getinsulin.org funded by Pharma. We had issues with that too, knowing that a Pharma funded website that proposed ways to get access to insulin was hypocritical and of course, didn’t alleviate the bigger issue that Pharma companies have created – the high price of insulin.
But why get Beyond Type 1 to create this website?
Well all was revealed last week in a shocking and unconscionable move by Beyond Type 1 – this diabetes non-profit organization that claims to “change what it means to live with chronic illness.”
On April 13th 2021, Beyond Type 1 wrote a letter opposing an insulin safety net bill in Maine, put forth by Maine #Insulin4all Chapter Leaders. This bill was going to help those living with diabetes get access to insulin. What is even worse is that in the letter, Beyond Type 1 were recommending their pharma paid website to be used instead of passing this bill.
Effectively, Beyond Type 1 has become agents for Pharma, to act on their behalf to dismantle any work our true advocates at T1 International and the #insulin4all chapters are doing to help people get access to insulin.
So I want to put forth a question to our diabetes influencers. Why are you not speaking out about this? What does it mean to you to be an influencer in the diabetes space, having the power to say something, but do nothing?
Most of you are on the leadership council for Beyond Type 1. Why are you on the council of a non-profit organization that is intentionally blocking access to insulin? Do you want members of our community to die? Your silence on this issue means you are complicit in helping Beyond Type 1 help Pharma Companies do this to us.
If you are following Beyond Type 1, why are you? Why are you supporting this Non-Profit Organization that is NOT supporting you, or our community?
If you don’t want to stand for this here are a few things you can do:
- Email board members of Beyond Type 1, asking for an explanation.
- Ask Members of the Beyond Type 1 Leadership Council why they support blocking an insulin access bill.
- Ask #insulin4all members how you can help support a bill.
- Share this post. Create your own posts. I will try to share as much as I can.
- Help us fight to get legislation passed defining what patient advocacy is, so orgs can’t just claim it.
Stand with us. BE the real difference, use your influence and be the advocates we need RIGHT NOW in our community. And if you think this post is divisive, think about what divisive really means – we are standing with those in our community that are needlessly dying from rationing insulin, not those who are happy for diabetes organizations to block an insulin access bill on behalf of a Pharmaceutical company.
Thanks to @betacellpodcast for helping with this comic.
This website is a personal account of Type 1 Diabetes and should in no way be taken as medical advice. Please consult your medical team if you have any questions regarding your own diabetes management.
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