Episode 5: Access to Insulin and Diabetes Supplies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Artwork

DDEA Global Health Podcast

How can global policy efforts better support and manage care in low-resource settings worldwide?

Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong and carefully monitored treatment. However, low- and middle-income countries face difficulties in providing optimal treatment due to limited resources and infrastructure.

In its first series, The DDEA Global Health Podcast dives into the challenges in type 1 diabetes care and research in low- and middle-income countries, and meets experts who are paving the way to progress with concrete actions.

The topics of this series include: lived experiences, the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, data foundations, access to insulin and supplies, healthcare systems, philanthropic programmes, and advocacy.

Producer and publisher: Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (www.ddeacademy.dk)
Audio editor: Mediehuset Periskop

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DDEA Global Health Podcast

Episode 5: Access to Insulin and Diabetes Supplies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

April 03, 2025 • Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy • Season 1 • Episode 5

Access to insulin and diabetes supplies is still far from guaranteed in many parts of the world. In this episode, we speak with Molly Lepeska from Health Action International about the pricing, policies, and partnerships shaping access to care in low- and middle-income countries. We also examine why insulin alone is not enough—education, test strips, and glucose monitors are just as essential.

Key Topics Discussed:

✔ Why insulin is a non-negotiable necessity for people with type 1 diabetes
✔ Systemic barriers: price, availability, and affordability
✔ The impact of donation programmes—and their limitations
✔ The complex role of pharmaceutical companies in shaping access and care
✔ The importance of education and proper use of insulin and supplies
✔ Challenges and opportunities in expanding access to test strips and glucose monitors
✔ Evidence-based advocacy and the need for better data
✔ Multi-stakeholder approaches, partnerships, and the risk of conflicts of interest
✔ The call for innovation and why we need new, transformative treatments

Hosts:

Gretchen Repasky, Education and Networking Manager, Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, Denmark
Karen Bonilla, Research Project Coordinator, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru

Guest: Molly Lepeska, Project Manager Health Action International, Netherlands

Find more resources at:

DDEA
World Diabetes Foundation

Health Action International

Credits and Contact Information:

Producer and publisher: Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (www.ddeacademy.dk)

Audio editor: Mediehuset Periskop

This podcast was produced in connection with the international meeting Type 1 Diabetes, Advancing a Global Roadmap for Improved and Integrated Care in Low-Resource Settings, held in early February 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark. This meeting was organised and hosted by the World Diabetes Foundation, the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva, and the East African Diabetes Study Group.