In many developing countries, insulin can cost more than 50% of the average per capita annual income. As a result, for many who live in these countries, type 1 diabetes can be a death sentence. Diabetes organizations around the world are working together, however, to find ways to provide insulin to patients who need it but cannot easily obtain it.

Insulin for Life (www.insulinforlife.org) is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes unopened and in-date insulin, test strips, and other diabetes supplies that would otherwise be wasted. Based in Australia, Insulin for Life has affiliates in the United States, Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Donations come from industry, diabetes centers and clinicians, and patients themselves.

Insulin for Life helps a number of developing countries on a continuous basis, and donates to others as needed in emergency situations, such as following the Asian tsunami, the recent earthquake in Peru, and Hurricane Katrina in the US. In addition, Insulin for Life partners with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (www.idf.org) on its Child Sponsorship Program in Bolivia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Uzbekistan.

“Many of these supplies would have otherwise been wasted. Instead, they are saving many lives,” said Ron Raab, President of Insulin for Life Global, who has had type 1 diabetes himself for the last 50 years.

“Until effective health care systems are put in place, organizations like Insulin for Life will need to provide help,” said IDF President Martin Silink, MD, Professor of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Sydney, Australia.

Over the past 2 years, shipments from Insulin for Life have totaled 250,000 mL insulin (25–30 million units), 400,000 blood glucose test strips, 1,523,500 syringes, and thousands of meters and other items, with an estimated value of € 2.5 million.

During a press conference Wim Wientjens, PhD, Vice President of the IDF, further highlighted the value of these two organizations. He noted that in developing countries, diabetes care can be abysmal. It is often marked by a lack of insulin (which may be unavailable to or unaffordable for families), a lack of expert care and facilities, and a lack of affordable means of self-monitoring. “For children with diabetes in developing countries, the most common complication of diabetes is death,” said Dr. Wientjens, who like Mr. Raab has type 1 diabetes.

Alicia Jenkins, MD, a Visiting Professor at the University of Oklahoma Diabetes Center, added that the aim is to “address the great inequality that exists in the world of diabetes care.” To illustrate how these programs are successful, Dr. Jenkins described the work being done in support of 42 needy children in Uzbekistan, whose typical life expectancy would be only 4–7 years post-diagnosis.

Since January 2007, when the project was initiated, Uzbekistan has received over 30,000 mL of insulin and 10,000 syringes. Hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis have sharply declined, and mean HbA1c has been reduced from >10% to 8%. There are now new patient advocacy associations and “healthier, happier people,” she reported.

Clinicians can help these efforts by donating funds or supplies, by sponsoring a child via the IDF Life for a Child program, or by starting a distribution center in their area. For more information, visit www.idf.org or www.insulinforlife.org.