[The cost of diabetes in metropolitan France]

The statistical analysis of French HealthCare's database, containing total reimbursements to affiliates and a listing of delivered drug prescriptions in the form of specific drug codes, allowed us to update data of the cost of diabetes. This study, realized during the first trimester of 1999, used the combined databases of 110 local healthcare offices (CPAM) among the 128 existing in metropolitan France. French Social Security spent a total of 31.9 billion francs (4.9 billion euros) in care given to diabetics (or 24,137 francs per patient) comprised by 14.2 francs (2.2 billion euros) for in-hospital care and 17.7 billion francs (2.7 billion euros) for outpatient services. The total expenses for diabetic patients represented 4.7% of French Social Security's overall expenses for all its affiliates. The differential cost of diabetes (the difference, at equivalent ages, between cost generated by diabetic patients and those attributable to the remainder of the affiliated population) was estimated, for the generalized health-care regimen (régime général) in 1998, to be 13.3 billion francs (2.0 billion euros). These figures underscore the need to reinforce prevention and screening for end-organ complications since it is generally admitted that the disease's high cost is essentially related to its complications.