Cost Of Diabetes Has Doubled In Past 20 Years

According to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), managing diabetes may be twice as expensive as it was 20 years ago.

Patients now spend about $2,790 more per year on diabetes-associated costs than in 1987.

The study found that over 50 percent of annual diabetes-associated costs is spent on prescription medications. 24 percent is spent on inpatient visits, 15 percent spent on outpatient care and 6 percent towards emergency room visits or other expenses.

“People need to be mindful about the substantial increase in the cost of diabetes, which has been partially fueled by the rising prices of newer drugs,” said lead study author Xiaohui Zhou, a health economist at the CDC.

Costs are also related to treating various complications of the disease

According to the American Diabetes Association, many of the costs associated with diabetes care are related to complications of the disease, not just treating the disease itself.

Patients are living longer than ever, medication costs have increased, and access to health care is more widespread.

Zhou says more efforts to prevent diabetes are imperative.

“This growing trend of diabetes cost is simply unsustainable," said Zhou.

The study is published in Diabetes Care.

Source: Reuters