Diabetes affects people of all nationalities, races and ages and does not discriminate. It is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and contributes to more than 230,000 deaths each year. Diabetes is one of our most costly diseases in both economic and human terms. According to JDRF, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, diabetes itself accounts for nearly $174 billion of our nation's annual health care costs. Diabetes costs are also expected to triple over the next 25 years. Insulin is very important for both people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and without it the risk of death continually increases. Instead of lowering prices, three major drug manufacturers have continued to raise the prices of this life-saving drug. Imagine if you had to pay for the air you breathe or the water you drink, and it went from $100 a month to $1,000 a month in just twenty years, says Dr. Vikas Saini. We need to address this problem and we need to do it quickly because we have lives at stake. We need all players in the insulin supply chain to know that we need transparency, affordability and access, and that no one who relies on insulin should have to wonder if they will be able to afford it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay We also need Congress to hold hearings to identify the reasons for the dramatic increase in insulin prices and take action to ensure all people who need insulin have affordable access to this life-saving drug. While the rising statistics are certainly alarming, the Special Diabetes Program has made real progress. They have helped us find better ways to treat, prevent, and ultimately cure type one diabetes. This program is making a huge effort, so it is important to give it the attention it deserves and help it as much as possible. According to the American Diabetes Association, we must improve access to insulin and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to survive and thrive despite this horrible disease. We must realize that nothing will change if we do not take action, so we must support the Special Diabetes Program as much as possible. We have to make a change. There are many advances made possible by the Special Diabetes Program, but this is simply just the beginning. These advances have made daily life much easier for both adults and children. They have the potential not only to improve the quality of health of people living with diabetes, but also to reduce long-term healthcare spending resulting from costly complications. We must address this problem head-on because without it many lives are at risk. Diabetes affects so many people and with the ever-increasing prices of insulin it is clear that a change needs to be made. We need to support programs that will help as much as possible. We cannot allow these numbers to increase any further. Insulin saves and improves lives and has become a necessity for many. The most important thing we can do is address cost issues. We cannot lose any more lives to this horrible disease.