U.S. Preventive Medicine Says Prevention Can Keep Diabetes Costs F...( DALLAS Oct. 28 /- A new research ...),Health

DALLAS, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A new research study just published in a major national journal reports the annual costs for treating Type 2 diabetes almost doubled over the last six years. But experts at U.S. Preventive Medicine(R), the leader in disease prevention services, say the actual costs are far higher and that more can be done through prevention to keep these costs low and more people healthy.

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"According to the study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, diabetes drug spending has nearly doubled in the U.S. in just six years," said Dr. Sami Beg, Associate Medical Director of U.S. Preventive Medicine. "This obviously is very concerning, but we also have to keep in mind that the total costs associated with diabetes are actually much higher."

The study reported that drug costs increased from $6.7 billion in 2001 to $12.5 billion in 2007.

"Earlier this year an American Diabetes Association study indicated that the total estimated cost of diabetes in 2007 alone was more than $174 billion," said Dr. Beg. "This included $116 billion in excess medical expenditures and $58 billion in reduced national productivity."

The American Diabetes Association report also showed that those diagnosed with diabetes average $11,744 in expenditures per year, of which $6,649 are attributed to the disease. On average, people with diagnosed diabetes, have medical expenditures that are more than twice what they would be in the absence of diabetes.

"Diabetes is a disease that can be kept in check in most cases by simply practicing prevention," said Dr. Beg. "The new study just reminds us that costs associated with the disease will continue to sky rocket if we don't turn things around. Diabetes alone should make us question the sick care system we have in place."

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