Diabetes patients in Gaza face survival battle amid war shortages

June 24, 2026 - 11:57

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has created a catastrophic situation for diabetes patients, who now face a daily battle for survival due to severe shortages of insulin and essential medical equipment. Without consistent access to life-saving medication, many are developing critical health complications that can lead to amputations, kidney failure, or death.

Hospitals and clinics across the region report that insulin supplies have been depleted for weeks. Patients who require daily injections are rationing their doses or skipping them entirely, a dangerous practice that causes blood sugar levels to spike uncontrollably. Medical workers describe scenes of people arriving at emergency rooms in diabetic comas or with severe infections from untreated wounds.

The shortages extend beyond insulin. Test strips, glucose monitors, and even basic syringes are increasingly hard to find. For those with Type 1 diabetes, the lack of these tools means managing the disease becomes nearly impossible. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable, as their bodies struggle to cope with sudden changes in glucose levels.

Doctors warn that the crisis is worsening by the day. Without a steady flow of supplies, the number of preventable deaths will continue to rise. Humanitarian agencies have called for immediate access to deliver medical aid, but ongoing hostilities and restrictions have made distribution routes unreliable. For now, families are left to navigate a broken system, hoping for a ceasefire that might allow the medicine they need to reach them in time.