COVID has been extremely tough on millions of people, especially those suffering from diabetes. Here’s an excerpt from an article on Reuters that describes the story of Kate Herrin and how the battle against diabetes has grown out of control during the pandemic:

Dr. Mary Applegate, medical director of Ohio’s Medicaid program, acknowledged that many diabetes patients don’t receive the care and support they need to manage their disease, leading to poor outcomes and higher medical costs. To help rectify that, she noted, Ohio eased restrictions this year on diabetic testing supplies and continuous glucose monitors to improve access at pharmacies. The state also began reimbursing medical providers for diabetes education and support services.

“The pandemic made all of the disparities in healthcare much more visible, and we feel even greater urgency to get the entire state to outcomes we would be proud of,” Applegate said.

Ohio’s recent efforts came too late for Herrin. When the engine on her 2002 Honda Civic gave out in November, she didn’t have the money to fix it. So when her doctor’s office at Kettering Health, a regional health system, called Herrin to come in for overdue lab work, she said she had no way to get there, her medical records note. It had been more than a year since her last diabetes lab test. Kettering Health declined to comment on Herrin’s care.

Ten days before Christmas, Herrin died in her bathroom. In her final moments, she clutched her phone, searching on it for symptoms of a heart attack.

Source: Out of Control: America’s losing battle against diabetes