The online, direct-to-consumer (DTC) medical marketplace is proliferating more rapidly than regulation is evolving to ensure proper patient safety and public health controls. Along with this growing body of unrestrained medical testing and pharmaceuticals offered DTC online, most types of insulin and insulin administration products may now be purchased without prescriptions or physician guidance. Given the relatively significant risks of insulin use, the abuse potential, the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and the rising population of uninsured and underinsured, it is imperative to reform the online DTC medical marketplace to ensure that patient safety and public health are protected.
Workgroup on Hypoglycemia, American Diabetes Association. Defining and Reporting Hypoglycemia in Diabetes: A Report From the American Diabetes Association Workgroup on Hypoglycemia. Diabetes Care.2005;28 (5): 1245–9.
5.
UngerJ.Parkin C Hypoglycemia in insulin-treated diabetes: A case for increased vigilance. Postgrad Med.2011;123 (4): 81–91.
6.
HirschIBergenstalRParkinCWrightEBuseJ.A Real-World Approach to Insulin Therapy in Primary Care Practice. Clinical Diabetes.2005;23: 78–86.
7.
NathanDMBuseJBDavidsonMBFerranniniEHolmanRRSherwinRZinmanB.Medical Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Algorithm for the Initiation and Adjustment of Therapy: A Consensus Statement of the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. American Diabetes Association, European Association for Study of Diabetes. Diabetes Care.2009;32 (1): 193–203.
LiangBAMackeyTK, Searching for Safety: Addressing Search Engine, Website, and Provider Accountability for Illicit Online Drug Sales. Am J Law Med.2009;35 (1): 125–84.
10.
MackeyTKLiangBA, The Global Counterfeit Drug Trade: Patient Safety and Public Health Risks. J Pharm Sci.2011;100 (11): 4571–9.
