A diabetic groom-to-be died after he switched to cheaper insulin so he could save money for his wedding, his grief-stricken mum says.

When Josh Wilkerson turned 26, he was no longer covered by his stepfather’s private health insurance and could no longer afford his nearly $1,200-a-month (£990) insulin.

After he started rationing his pricey prescription brand, a doctor recommended taking an over-the-counter brand sold for $25 (£25) a vial at Walmart – a reasonable price as he was saving for a wedding.

Tragically, Josh died on June 14.

His mum, Erin Wilson-Weaver, told the NY Post that she's still in mourning, but she's determined to raise awareness in his memory.

“It didn’t work for his body,” she said.

The over-the-counter medication takes longer to become effective than the "analogue" insulin Josh had been taking before.

But it was far more affordable for Josh, who was saving for a wedding while working as a dog kennel supervisor.

Josh was due to marry fiancée Rose Walters, 27, who is also a Type 1 diabetic, in October.

She too switched to the cheaper brand.

“We figured, hey, it’s $25. We can do that, and we’ll just work with it and try to do the best we can,” she told the Washington Post .

The pair also switched to an over-the-counter brand for their blood glucose meters to keep medical prices within their budget.

The couple were due to marry in a rustic barn house and hoped to save money for it with the cheaper medication.

“When it comes to Type 1 diabetes, people are facing unthinkable decisions — between the costs of living and their very lives,” Erin said, in a post for a diabetes advocacy blog .

She had been concerned after losing her father to Type 1 diabetes complications when he was just 38.

“He couldn’t afford the maintenance or supplies for his insulin pump, so he had to make the switch back to syringes,” Erin continued.

Josh was experiencing stomach problems, mood swings and high blood sugar after switching.

In June, Josh was house sitting while his friend was away and was FaceTiming Rose before bed one evening.

He complained of stomach problems but promised to take his insulin before signing off, the Washington Post reports.

In the morning, when she called his phone and he didn’t pick up, she became worried and rushed to where he was staying to discover that Wilkerson was unconscious on the floor.

“I just remember smacking him on the face, saying, ‘Babe, wake up. You have to wake up,’” she said.

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