Diabetic patient used social media to find insulin

A woman living with type 1 diabetes is calling for better communication on the supply of essential medication after she had to turn to social media for help in finding some.

Gwen Edwards, 27, from Anglesey, takes insulin and has been using Fiasp FlexTouch, a type of insulin that comes in a disposable pen.

A shortage notice about supplies of the insulin that she uses was sent to all surgeries and pharmacies in Wales in March, but Gwen said she was not made aware of this.

According to her, she normally gets a prescription two weeks before her medicine runs out, but recently it became clear that there was a problem with the stock.

"I had to go and look for insulin. One chemist told me that they had run out and that there was no stock at all, so I was a bit worried," she said.

Despite the low stock, she said she was not aware of the shortage.

"I went with the prescription to other places to look for the insulin. Five chemists later they told me that the insulin was out of stock."

Her GP practice said it could not comment on individual cases, but the health board for north Wales said local pharmacies would not "routinely contact patients directly" about shortages of medicines because most would not see any disruption.

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Source: BBC News, 15 July 2024