They have a choice to inject insulin that's been around a lot longer and is cheaper, but most taking the stuff that is that expensive have the means and good insurance coverage, which brings it down to around $400 or so a month.

The newer stuff allows a Type 1 diabetic to eat a meal and dose up to 20 minutes after eating and that's it. This is opposed to testing blood sugar before eating, taking an injection if it's too high, waiting 30 minutes to eat, and then closely monitoring blood sugar levels after the meal in case a 2nd injection is needed. The older insulins are more economical but a huge hassle if they can be avoided.