We know that people living in rural America are 17% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those in urban areas. For many with diabetes, their health depends on having reliable access to insulin to help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications that diabetes causes.
The average cash price for insulins in the United States in late 2021 had risen more than 40% compared to early 2014. Sadly, but not surprisingly, 1 in 4 individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the United States resorted to rationing their insulin because of the high cost. The consequences of skipping or reducing insulin treatments can be severe, including increased likelihood of complications such as blindness, amputations, heart attack and kidney failure.
Ensuring access to affordable insulin is a goal we can and should achieve collectively. We are encouraged to see lawmakers at the federal and state levels recognize the urgency to make insulin more affordable. In his recent State of the Union address, President Biden called for a nationwide $35 cap on insulin copayments for those enrolled in private health plans or Medicare. The U.S. House approved a bill that does just that this week while the Senate is pursuing bipartisan agreement on a similar measure.
Unwilling to wait for federal action, 16 states across the country – starting with Colorado in 2019 – have enacted their own caps on insulin copayments, ranging from $25 to $100 a month, for consumers with commercial health insurance. Eight more states are considering legislation to do so this year.
While these federal and state laws limiting insulin copayments will help millions of Americans, they still don’t solve the problem of high insulin costs for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their insulin or the roughly 28 million Americans without insurance. Walmart is helping to fill that gap.
At Walmart, we are using our size and scale to bring down costs for our customers who must pay out of pocket for insulin, providing a more affordable option for those who can’t benefit from copay limits. By working directly with insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk, we are selling insulin products under our own private ReliOn label that saves customers up to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin. That translates to a savings of up to $101 per vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens®.
ReliOn private label of Novolog (insulin aspart) injection analog insulin in vials and FlexPens® as well as ReliOn NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart injectable suspension) are available at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies nationwide to anyone with a prescription, regardless of their insurance status. Our suite of more affordable insulin products and diabetes-management devices is part of Walmart’s legacy of introducing innovative solutions that increase access to quality, affordable health care resources, including the industry-leading $4 generic prescription program launched more than a decade ago.
Walmart Health is also looking to better provide for patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and assist employers and other institutions supporting the specific health needs of their employees by launching the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program. Available as a standalone or as part of a comprehensive medical and behavioral telehealth program, the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program was developed in partnership with the American Diabetes Association for employers and payors to help their employees and members close gaps in diabetes management among employees and their families through early intervention, which could lead to better health outcomes.
While drug pricing in the United States is complicated and involves many stakeholders, the public’s need for life-saving medications like insulin at predictable and more affordable prices should drive all of us to do more and do better.
Indications and Usage for Novolog
What is NovoLog® (insulin aspart) injection?
- NovoLog® is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes mellitus.
Important Safety Information
Do not share your NovoLog® FlexPen®, NovoLog® FlexTouch®, PenFill® cartridge or PenFill® cartridge compatible insulin delivery device with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take NovoLog®?
Do not take NovoLog® if:
- your blood sugar is too low (hypoglycemia) or you are allergic to NovoLog® or any of its ingredients.
Before taking NovoLog®, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions including, if you are:
- pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
- taking new prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including supplements.
Talk to your health care provider about how to manage low blood sugar.
How should I take NovoLog®?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed.
- NovoLog® starts acting fast. Eat a meal within 5 to 10 minutes after taking it.
- Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check them.
- Do not reuse or share your needles with other people. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking NovoLog®?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how NovoLog® affects you.
- Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.
What are the possible side effects of NovoLog®?
Serious side effects can lead to death, including:
Low blood sugar. Some signs and symptoms include:
- anxiety, irritability, mood changes, dizziness, sweating, confusion, and headache.
Your insulin dose may need to change because of:
- weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, or change in diet or level of physical activity.
Other common side effects may include:
- low potassium in your blood, injection site reactions, itching, rash, serious whole body allergic reactions, skin thickening or pits at the injection site, weight gain, and swelling of your hands and feet.
Get emergency medical help if you have:
- trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
Indications and Usage for NovoLog Mix 70/30
What is NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart) injectable suspension 100 U/mL?
- NovoLog® Mix 70/30 is a man-made insulin used to control high blood sugar in people with diabetes mellitus.
- It is not known if NovoLog® Mix 70/30 is safe and effective in children.
Important Safety Information
Do not share your NovoLog® Mix 70/30 FlexPen® with other people, even if the needle has been changed. Do not share needles or syringes with another person. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
Who should not take NovoLog® Mix 70/30?
- Do not take NovoLog® Mix 70/30 if you are having an episode of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or you have an allergy to NovoLog® Mix 70/30 or any of its ingredients.
Before taking NovoLog® Mix 70/30, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions including, if you are:
- pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
- taking new prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including supplements.
Before you start taking NovoLog® Mix 70/30, talk to your health care provider about low blood sugar and how to manage it.
How should I take NovoLog® Mix 70/30?
- Read the Instructions for Use and take exactly as directed by your healthcare provider.
- NovoLog® Mix 70/30 starts acting fast. If you have type 1 diabetes, inject within 15 minutes before you eat a meal. Do not inject NovoLog® Mix 70/30 if you are not planning to eat within 15 minutes. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may inject up to 15 minutes before or after starting your meal.
- Do not mix NovoLog® Mix 70/30 with other insulin products or use in an insulin pump.
- Know the type and strength of your insulin. Do not change your insulin type unless your health care provider tells you to.
- Check your blood sugar levels. Ask your health care provider what your blood sugar levels should be and when you should check them.
- Do not reuse or share your needles or syringes with other people. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
- NovoLog® Mix 70/30 is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach area, buttocks, upper legs, or upper arms.
- Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites.
- Do not use the exact same spot for each injection.
- Do not inject where the skin has pits, is thickened, or has lumps.
- Do not inject where the skin is tender, bruised, scaly or hard, or into scars or damaged skin.
What should I avoid while taking NovoLog® Mix 70/30?
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how NovoLog® Mix 70/30 affects you.
- Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that contain alcohol.
What are the possible side effects of NovoLog® Mix 70/30? Serious side effects can lead to death, including:
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Some signs and symptoms include:
- Dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heart rate, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, and hunger
Your insulin dose may need to change because of:
- weight gain or loss, increased stress, illness, or change in diet or level of physical activity.
Other common side effects may include:
- low potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), reactions at the injection site, itching, rash, serious allergic reactions (whole body reactions), skin thickening or pits at the injection site (lipodystrophy), weight gain, and swelling of your hands and feet.
Get emergency medical help if you have:
- trouble breathing, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, swelling of your face, tongue, or throat, sweating, extreme drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion.
Please see the full prescribing information for Novolog and NovoLog Mix 70/30
NovoLog® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Novo Nordisk is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.
© 2022 Novo Nordisk All rights reserved. US22NL00003 June 2022
* Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2020
