• Antanas Norkus, Rytas Ostrauskas, and Rita Sulcaite.
• Institute of Endocrinology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. cdkaunas@takas.lt; A.Norkus@takas.lt
• Medicina (Kaunas). 2005 Jan 1; 41 (10): 877884877-84.

UnlabelledType 2 diabetes mellitus is a severe, high-priced, and to date not curable, however, controllable disease. When diabetes mellitus is not treated or is poorly controlled, complications of small and large blood vessels arise, and the mortality increases. The costs of treatment of diabetes-related complications are very high. Estimates performed in other countries show that expenses on treatment of diabetes-related complications are considerably higher than the expenses paid for diabetes control itself. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often diagnosed too late, when complications requiring expensive treatment are already present.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to estimate the impact of well-timed diagnostics and early treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus on total health care costs.MethodsDirect and indirect costs of treatment of the disease and its complications were estimated using Markov model with a discount of 5% per annum.ResultsIt was calculated that with well-timed diagnostics and early initiation of treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus the total costs to budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund per one patient would be reduced by 1,736 Lt over 5 years and over 10 years our state would save 5,911 Lt. Not only direct but indirect costs would be reduced as well. The costs of 2,418 Lt would be saved per one patient over 5 years, and 7,061 Lt - over 10 years. With improvement of diagnostics of type 2 diabetes mellitus and with well-timed diagnostics in at least 50% of cases of diabetes mellitus in Lithuania, the health budget could save 34.7 million Lt over 5 years, and even 118.2 million Lt over 10 years. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus made in time and administration of reimbursed drugs would prolong the life of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus by 2.67 months over 10 years.ConclusionDiagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in time provides a possibility to reduce expenses of diabetes treatment and care and to prolong a patient's life.

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