What is the Real Cost of Diabetes?

With the potential for an all-new U.S. healthcare system coming online during the current Presidential administration, everyone seems to be talking about healthcare costs these days. Healthcare costs are national, state, regional (Congressional District), community, family, and personal issues that impact everyone in some way shape or form. Even if you do not have Diabetes and never develop it, you will still play a role in helping to pay for it through your taxes.

The costs associated with Diabetes are staggering. Take a closer look:

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the national cost of Diabetes in the U.S. was more than $174 billion in the year 2007 alone...and costs increase annually. How is that huge sum of money broken down? Between costs directly associated with medical expenses required to treat Diabetes ($116 billion) and the cost of lost productivity when Diabetics need to leave their jobs to tend to an issue associated with Diabetes, such as a doctor's appointment, complication, or more ($58 billion).

As a national average, about one tenth of all health care expenses goes towards Diabetes - that's $1 out of every $10. Indirectly, the cost of Diabetes increases as a result of reduced productivity, absenteeism, and loss of productivity due to early mortality, according to the ADA's publication "Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2007."

In order to get these figures, researchers got cost estimates beginning with congressional districts, which they combined for states, which they then combined together for a national average. However, for individuals interested in learning more about costs in their states, they can visit the ADA Web site and perform a search. For example, the total cost of Diabetes in the state of Virginia in 2007 was $4,398,000,000; $2,827,000,000 attributed to medical costs of Diabetes and $1,571,000,000 attributed to indirect costs.

How can you reduce your costs?

Individuals who are diagnosed with Diabetes can expect to pay about 2.3 times more for their medical expenses than individuals who do not have Diabetes. If you have Diabetes, there are a few things that you can do to help keep your costs as low as possible. First and foremost: pay attention to your health by exercising, eating well, and taking your medications. If you have not developed Diabetes, it's time to take a serious look at steps you can take to prevent it.

Remember: good health is not an option; it's a requirement to living a more fulfilled life. Save money and your health by exercising, making wise food selections, and addressing your medical needs in a timely manner.

Resources:

• http://www.imtypefree.com/diabetes-complications.html
• http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/cost-of-diabetes-results.jsp?state=Virginia&district=0&DistName=Virginia+(Entire+State)
• http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/3/596.full.pdf+html?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=economic+costs&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT