Over £200 a month is the cost of living with type 2 diabetes for the Inverness grant.

An Inverness woman is paying more than £200 a month for drugs to treat her type 2 diabetes because doctors told her the NHS couldn’t afford to pay for her prescription.

Munjaro was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but it can also be used for weight loss, and its popularity among slim people has been widely publicized.

Janice D’Olier (57), from Milton Leys, was diagnosed with type 2 in 2016 and was treated for some time with the hormone drug metoformin, taken orally.

However, in June 2023, her body began to reject the drug, and after various tests, including a biopsy, she was taken off metoformin and prescribed various alternative treatments, which gave her “horrifying side effects”, including that she could not stay too long. far from the toilet.

Her GP advised Mujaro injections but said the NHS could not provide them due to supply shortages.

“He suggested I look it up online,” she said: “In desperation, I managed to find it and buy it online before the NHS could get supplies.”

Janice, a cost administrator at a wind farm in Caithness, then found that Munjaro, which is self-administered with one injection a week, was “wonderful”.

She added: “It was life changing, I have never felt better!

“After two months I went for a blood test to make sure my diabetes was under control again. I was glad when the doctor said it lowered my levels and wrote me a prescription for the medicine, saying I might be able to get it.”

However, her joy was short-lived. After trying it for a month and still working well, Janice got a second month’s prescription from her GP… but that was it.

Suddenly her medical practice was discontinued and it was discovered that due to its high cost it was not available by prescription.

“I was told the therapist had made a mistake and should not have been prescribed and I was given a letter of apology,” she said.

Janice was determined to move on and complained to the practice. She spoke to her partner and left the meeting “very upset” but with a referral to Dr McFarlane at Raigmore Hospital’s renal unit.

She said she was told her case would be reviewed, but so far there had been no new developments.

She said: “It seems to be all about the money. I was told that if everyone was given this drug the NHS would go bankrupt, but I worked and paid taxes all my life. I’m not giving up.”

To date, the online medications have cost her a total of more than £1,400.

“You just have to tighten your belt,” she said.

An NHS Highland spokesperson said: “Tirzepatide (Munjaro) is listed on the Highland Formulary for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

“Treatment is based on the patient’s individual circumstances and in collaboration with the primary care team and specialists.

“We would be happy to continue discussions with Ms D’Olier and would ask her to contact our feedback team.”

John Kinnear, national director for Scotland at Diabetes UK, said: “Medicines such as Munjaro play an important role in the overall treatment and control of type 2 diabetes, and are also an option for some people to help manage their weight. Anyone who meets the criteria and is eligible should have access to it.”

Munjaro helps your body produce more insulin when needed. It also reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver and slows down the rate at which food is digested.

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