My now 9-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) when she was 8, and since that life-changing day, I’ve seen first-hand the struggles families face. We deal not only with the emotional toll of this chronic disease but with the financial burden that comes with it. The soaring costs of insulin and related healthcare disparity are realities that families like mine can no longer quietly endure.

The original concept for insulin, discovered nearly a century ago, was to provide it at an accessible cost. Yet, today, the cost of insulin can be as high as $300 or more per vial. Compare that to the original price point of just $1.00 when it was first intended to save lives—not line corporate pockets. That steep price hike has directly contributed to a dilemma: choosing between life-saving medicine and basic living expenses.

In Minneapolis, and across the USA, thousands of families face this impossible choice every day. It is a gap that stands stark in our healthcare system, reflecting wider disparities and inequalities. With over 1.25 million Americans living with T1D, being unable to afford insulin shouldn’t, under any circumstance, be the barrier that leads to detrimental health outcomes.

But we can change this. By raising awareness for Type 1 Diabetes and advocating for a reduction in insulin prices to $1.00, we can make insulin affordable and accessible to everyone. A pivotal step is urging local lawmakers in Minneapolis and influential figures across the healthcare industry to take decisive action. This includes calls for greater transparency in the pricing structures, subsidizing costs for families in need, and incentivizing pharmaceutical companies to adhere to the ethic of saving lives over profit margins.

We need public support to bridge this healthcare gap and create sustainable change. Raising our voices can highlight these issues and make them impossible to ignore. Please join me in this critical mission by signing this petition. Together, we can demand change, ensure insulin is affordable, and offer hope to countless families grappling with Type 1 diabetes.