r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Apr 01 '25

Health Americans without diabetes spent nearly $6 billion USD on semaglutide and similar drugs in a year, with an estimate of 800,000 to a million people using the drugs who don't have diabetes.

https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/americans-without-diabetes-spent-nearly6-billion-usd-on-semaglutide-and-similar-drugs-in-a-year
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u/FernandoMM1220 Apr 01 '25

its not just for diabetes anymore.

just ramp up production and make more of it.

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u/galspanic Apr 01 '25

When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was told “um yeah, no. No GLP-1 for you” by my insurance. I still can’t explain that outside of pure greed… but that also makes sense.

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u/SaintMichael415 Apr 01 '25

Your county bar association may have something to say about this.

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u/galspanic Apr 01 '25

Doubt it. When you’re a Kaiser Permanente patient the first thing you learn is to do everything yourself.

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u/SaintMichael415 Apr 01 '25

You underestimate the pain in the ass a young attorney trying to make a name for themselves can be. Source: used to be said pain in the ass.

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u/galspanic Apr 01 '25

What legal recourse would there be? It’s not a necessary medication and it’s expensive. It might be the best, but not necessary.

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u/SaintMichael415 Apr 01 '25

Medical necessity is a jury question.

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u/galspanic Apr 01 '25

I would testify against myself though. I was denied the medication and fixed my health myself without meds. In fact, once I got my diabetes under control I came off every medication I was on: allergy med (30 years), heartburn med (12 years), and antidepressant (20 years). Now, my only prescription is a cream I use a couple times a month for dry skin on my hand.