When Grace Peng (12) stepped up to the podium at the press conference in Los Angeles, bright lights and television cameras filled the room. Behind the scenes, state officials, reporters, and health-care advocates gathered to mark a milestone: California’s new plan to make insulin more affordable for everyone who needs it.

Grace is not a policymaker or doctor; she is only a student at Yorba Linda High School. But as the daughter and granddaughter of people living with Type 2 diabetes, she knew exactly why she was there.

“I don’t have diabetes myself,” Grace began, “but it has always been part of the background in my home, at every meal, every grocery trip, and every family gathering. Both my dad and my grandmother have lived with Type 2 diabetes for as long as I can remember, and insulin has become as much a part of our daily routine as breakfast or brushing our teeth.”

These are the daily realities Grace has to face. With concerns about the rising costs, it pushed her to speak at this event. “For them, and for so many others, insulin is not optional; it’s a matter of survival,” she said. “Yet many families still struggle to afford the very medicine that keeps them alive.”

At the press conference on October 16th, Gavin Newsom announced that California would offer insulin under its state-branded program, CalRx, for a suggested retail price of $11 per pen, or $55 for a five-pack, beginning January 1, 2026 (latimes.com).

According to the state release, the insulin is interchangeable with brand-name long-acting insulin glargine and is part of California’s attempt to challenge high drug prices and reduce barriers for people with diabetes (gov.ca).

At the same time, California recently passed Senate Bill 40, which caps insulin copays at $35 per month for many state-regulated commercial health insurance plans. 

“Making insulin more affordable for the more than 8 million Americans who rely on it has long been a top priority for the ADA,” said Christine Fallabel (A), Director of State Government Affairs with the American Diabetes Association. “We celebrate every action to make that happen, including the recent passage of Senate Bill 40. Any meaningful step to improve insulin affordability and provide additional options is a win for people with diabetes.”

As an American Diabetes Association (ADA) Youth Ambassador, Grace spent the past year raising awareness among students. She led healthy-habits workshops, fundraised for diabetes education, and even presented research on how short videos can engage teens around diabetes awareness. “I am most proud of my advocacy for Senate Bill 40, not only because it directly impacts my family, but because it represents a positive step toward making insulin more affordable and accessible for families across California who rely on it every day.”

Preparing to speak at such a high-profile event was not an easy task. “[S]tanding behind the podium, with what felt like twenty cameras pointed straight at me, I was nervous beyond measure,” Grace admitted. “For a moment, I questioned what I (a high schooler) was doing at such an important press conference. But once I began my speech…I realized I was the right person to be there. I was speaking for thousands of families across California, for my own family, and for the youth.”

Many students might not realize how common diabetes is or how deeply it affects families. Grace notes, “[m]any high schoolers don’t realize how common diabetes is or how deeply it affects families. Even among youth who don’t have diabetes, nearly 1 in 3 adolescents is at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Simple things–eating balanced meals, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep–can lower that risk.”

Policy changes like the CalRx program and SB 40 mean fewer families may face the impossible choice between medication and other essentials. The LA Times reports that some uninsured insulin users were paying hundreds of dollars before this reform (latimes.com).

Grace’s story shows that students can play a real role in public policy issues. Whether through school clubs, advocacy organizations, or community partnerships, young people’s voices matter. “I don’t think high schoolers realize how powerful their voices are. Our perspectives matter, and they deserve to be heard.”

When a high schooler stands beside the governor and helps spotlight changes that affect millions of Californians, it sends the message that students aren’t just future voters; they are today’s advocates too.

If any high-school students want to get involved with the American Diabetes Association, Christine Fallabel expressed, “[T]hey can sign up at: Become an Advocate | ADA”