Lack of supplies for insulin pumps affects patients with diabetes in the interior of SP Patients with type 1 diabetes are facing difficulties in continuing their treatment due to the lack of supplies necessary for the functioning of insulin pumps, essential for controlling the disease, and which should be offered by the city hall. In a note, Mococa City Hall reported that it serves 15 patients, in compliance with court decisions that determine the continuous supply of insulin pumps and the respective inputs necessary for treatment and that these demands represent an annual investment of more than R$1 million, fully supported by the municipality (See the full position below). ? Follow g1 São Carlos and Araraquara on Instagram The insulin pump is a piece of equipment that is attached to the patient's body, performing the function of the pancreas: releasing insulin doses to control glucose in the body. "We depend on it to live. We urgently need these inputs, otherwise we won't be able to have a normal life. It's a time bomb," said businessman Luiz Desuó Filho. The insulin pump costs around R$20,000. Luiz and his wife went to court to obtain the supplies, which should be collected every month at the Municipal Pharmacy. Lack of insulin pump supplies affects patients with type 1 diabetes in Mococa EPTV/Reproduction On June 23, the merchant removed part of the supplies, but the catheter was missing. Luiz returned this week, and the answer was the same: the purchase was temporarily suspended. "It's a long fight, we've been here for a long time, there's a lack of it. Sometimes there's insulin, but there's no catheter. And the catheter is what takes the insulin into the body. There's no point in having the insulin, you have to have the pump, you have to have the minilink", said hairdresser and Luiz's wife, Carla Maria Rafaldinis Desuó. The situation is not an isolated problem, there are many people who depend on the insulin pump. Professor Rilda Alves' two children have type 1 diabetes. However, according to her, her daughter's illness is more serious. "My son removed the pump because he doesn't have the supplies and my daughter now has diabetic retinopathy," said the teacher. ? Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that damages the blood vessels of the retina, which can cause irreversible loss of vision. It is silent at first, but can progress to blurred vision, floating spots and blindness. More news from the region: MOURNING: Founder of Caminho da Fé, Almiro José Grings, dies at the age of 85 in the interior of SP VIDEO: Garbage collector becomes Spider-Man and faces the cold in the interior of SP: 'You have to be a hero' CRIME: 'drive-through' drug trafficking generated R$300,000 a month in the interior of SP, police say; 16 people are arrested High cost of the catheter Lack of supplies for the insulin pump affects patients with type 1 diabetes in Mococa EPTV/Reproduction The teacher explained that she is unable to cover the costs of her children's treatments. "We don't have the conditions. Then I entered through the State too, I won for him, no for her. Then my son took out the pump, gave the pump to his sister to use because his sister needs it more than him. [...] He is using normal insulin with a syringe, applying it with a syringe and she is using the inputs from the pump." Even though it is not ideal for the boy, he is sacrificing himself by giving up the pump to help his sister. "It's because the sister is at risk of going blind and it's a serious thing, it's no joke." Commercial attendant Maria Aparecida Boarati is also fighting for her son, who was diagnosed with the disease 22 years ago, and has needed to use the pump for approximately 12 years. "The person loses consciousness, falls. The pump has already been recommended for my son for this, to help with this point." Difficulties in monitoring Like the other patients, receptionist Ana Luiza da Silva only has the catheter that is in her body. The pump is working without the sensor and, therefore, she cannot control the glucose levels. "For me it is very bad. I live alone, it's even more difficult. Because, if I don't have this [sensor], it's my life, it's my salvation, it's what keeps me alive", he pointed out. The families urgently ask for the delivery of inputs to be normalized. "That we can have everything normalized as it was, because it normalizes for a while, [then] it's gone. And in this time that is missing, how are we doing? It's not easy", said Ana Luiza. What the City Hall says Lack of inputs for insulin pumps affects patients with type 1 diabetes in Mococa EPTV/Reproduction In a statement, the Municipal Health Department of Mococa, through the city hall, reported that it faces an exceptional situation related to the supply of inputs intended for patients who use continuous insulin infusion pumps. According to the municipal administration, the city serves 15 patients, in compliance with court decisions that determine the continuous supply of insulin pumps and of the respective inputs necessary for treatment and that these demands represent an annual investment of more than R$1 million, fully supported by the municipality. "Although health care is, by determination of the Federal Constitution and the Organization of the Unified Health System (SUS), a shared responsibility between the Union, States and Municipalities, the judicial decisions related to these patients attributed the obligation to the municipality of Mococa to fully pay for the treatment", said the city hall due to financial outstanding issues with the responsible company. due to the supply of products, concrete difficulties arose in carrying out new acquisitions. The city council tried to regularize the situation, including a proposal to pay the debts in installments, but, to date, there has not been a solution compatible with the municipality's finances. The administration said that, over the last few years, these determinations have been fulfilled, guaranteeing the continuity of the ass.