Diabetes patients face life-threatening insulin shortage in Gaza

Diabetes patients in the Gaza Strip are facing growing health risks as shortages of insulin and essential medical supplies continue amid Israeli restrictions on the entry of healthcare materials, Anadolu reports.

Umm Amir Jaha, 39, said she has been unable to find unexpired insulin for her 10-year-old son Amir, who has Type 1 diabetes and requires regular insulin treatment.

She said the family has been forced to use expired insulin pens purchased at high prices after searching across different areas of Gaza.

Amir also needs a blood glucose meter and testing strips to monitor his condition daily, but those supplies have also become difficult to obtain.

Jaha said her son has experienced abdominal pain, headaches and pain in his hands and feet while relying on inadequate supplies of insulin. She said she fears his condition could deteriorate further if regular treatment is not restored.

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Shortages of Type 1 insulin analogues and other diabetes supplies remain severe across Gaza, while access to glucometers and blood glucose test strips is also limited, according to UN humanitarian agencies.

Dr. Rabii Hamdiya, an endocrinology and diabetes specialist at Al Shifa Hospital, said interruptions in insulin treatment can cause dangerously high blood sugar levels and lead to serious complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis and coma.

He said insulin pens used particularly by children are not available in sufficient quantities, forcing some patients to receive insulin by syringe several times a day instead.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said in October that around 71,000 people in Gaza have diabetes, including about 3,500 Type 1 patients who depend entirely on insulin.

The UN has also reported that restrictions and delays affecting the entry of medical supplies continue to disrupt treatment for chronic diseases, including diabetes.

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