The Price of Inequality in Type 1 Diabetes Management

The purpose of this paper is to examine the compounded disparities in diabetes management and how disease burden is amplified by socioeconomic conditions. Access to tools that equip care is explored in relation to income, education, race and insurance coverage. Commentary is also provided from the perspective of a patient who has managed diabetes for 25 years and is currently a third year medical student. From this experience, she understands firsthand the demand and complexity of disease management. Through her observations in the hospital, she also identifies how disparities shape care for individuals managing this challenging disease. Lower socioeconomic status, education level, non-white race and non-commercial insurance are amongst variables that restrict access to technology. The various influences that shape technological access in combination with the observations from a patient managing T1D serve to demonstrate the multifactorial challenges encompassed in care acquisition.