HOUSTON — The American Diabetes Association (ADA) said it's concerned about the impact of potential shortages of certain types of insulin.
Across the country, people are reporting having trouble finding specific insulin medications. In the U.S., drug companies must report issues with their supply chain to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA maintains a list of active shortages and medications that have or will be discontinued.
A KHOU 11 viewer turned to The KHOU 11 Verify team to determine if the Type 1 Diabetes medication NovoLog is part of an ongoing shortage. The Verify Team found out that at the start of May, the drug maker said NovoLog resumed shipping, but it will take time for impacted pharmacies to restock the medication.
THE QUESTION
Is there a NovoLog shortage at Walgreens?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, there is no current NovoLog shortage at Walgreens.
WHAT WE FOUND
The KHOU 11 Verify Team reached out to Novo Nordisk, the company that makes NovoLog, to confirm if there was a shortage of the medication. In an email response, the company said the drug resumed shipping of the medication in early May 2024. Novo Nordisk is no stranger to drug supply shortages, the same company experienced previous shortages in other products they produce, including type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic and obesity medication Wegovy.
According to Novo Nordisk, "The reason for the shortage was manufacturing delays at the production facility resulting in a depletion of stock for NovoLog vials."
NovoLog is an insulin medication with fast-acting results for those with type one diabetes. A Type one diabetic patient cannot produce insulin because the pancreas is unable to do so, according to Houston Methodist Endocrinologist, Dr. Archana Sadhu.
According to Novo Nordisk, NovoLog helps improve the glycemic control of type one diabetic patients. In an email response to the KHOU 11 Verify Team, Dr. Kevin Peterson (MD, MPH, FRCSEd, FAAFP), vice president of Primary Care at the American Diabetes Association (ADA), said glycemic control is important in type one diabetics because, "High blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in the body. The smallest blood vessels in the body occur in the back of the eyes (retina), in the kidneys where blood is filtered, and the small blood vessels that feed the nerves. Over time, high blood sugar can destroy these blood vessels, leading to the major problems associated with diabetes including blindness, kidney failure, and loss of sensation that occurs first in the long nerves to the feet and hands. When the blood sugar is kept under control, the blood vessels are not damaged and the complications often associated with diabetes do not occur."
When a medication as vital as insulin is in short supply, doctors have to find alternative insulin medication, but the trick is to replace the medication with the same type of medication that the patient takes.
"It's a mandatory thing. If they are not able to get their NovoLog, they have to get another that works just like NovoLog," Sadhu said.
According to ADA, patients can speak with their pharamacists to, "help to identify a source for a medicine in short supply. Sometimes different pharmacies have different capabilities to access medicines, so trying another pharmacy can also help. Be very careful about ordering drugs online from sources you are not familiar with since online fraud is common."
The KHOU 11 Verify Team reached out to Walgreens, who confirmed their pharmacies did experience an issue with getting NovoLog.
KHOU 11 also reached out to CVS Pharmacy to see if there was a disruption in their supply with NovoLog. Their statement given to the KHOU 11 Verify Team is below.
Alex Varkey, President of, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) said it's best to develop a relationship with your pharmacist.
"That pharmacist can be very very helpful especially to allow that pharmacist the chance to advocate for them and have that conversation with their physician about what might have to change or be updated, and that includes how to manage drug shortages that are currently happening right now," Varkey said.
