The direct medical cost of treating diabetics will rise from $113 billion annually to $336 billion

Nov/27/2009 12:33 Filed in: Cost of healthcare

Accounting for inflation, the direct medical cost of treating diabetics will rise from $113 billion annually to $336 billion according to a report from the University of Chicago. While there’s no compelling evidence that better preventive care can significantly reduce the cost of treating diabetes accountable care organizations could make a big impact. The idea of allowing insurers to charge higher premiums to people who don't meet certain health benchmarks, such as losing weight if they're obese may also lead some to make lifestyle changes that effect us all.

By 2034, 44.1 million Americans will be living with diabetes -- nearly twice the current number of 23.7 million, according to the report, published in the December issue of the journal Diabetes Care. About 90 percent of those with diabetes have type 2, a version of the condition that develops over time.

The staggering numbers in the new paper dwarf potential savings that have lately been discussed. For example, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius earlier this month released a report urging improvements in diabetes care. If the most successful statewide programs for controlling diabetes could be duplicated nationwide, it estimates, annual savings from reducing hospitalizations and treatment for various complications would total $216 million.

Even modest weight loss will reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More ambitious lifestyle changes, such as diet, regular exercise and assistance through counseling lowered the risk of diabetes by 58 percent, even without medication, in a major federally funded study.

Now what if the big drug companies that make drugs for diabetes banded together for a DTC educational program on the dangers of diabetes ? As a voter I would be willing to fund that via a credit with my tax dollars even if it meant just a few people would start to take better care of themselves.

"Without significant changes in public or private strategies, this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system," the report concludes.

The study was funded by the company Novo Nordisk, which makes insulin delivery systems to treat diabetics. Novo Nordisk approved the final manuscript, but the authors say the company did not play a role in designing the study or collecting data.

"Prior estimates have all said there would be a dramatic rise in the diabetes type 2 population,", but in every case "the actual [diabetic] population has ended up being larger than the estimates."

Maybe it’s time to rethink a DTC strategy on diabetes that somehow reaches people to take better care of themselves. I know a lot of people say that changing behavior is hard to do but no harder than trying to sell people drugs they may not need.

Tags: Diabetes DTC Marketing