Health economic considerations in the management of type 2 diabetes

The number of therapeutic options for people with type 2 diabetes is increasing. Large-scale clinical trials have delineated the health benefits of tight glycemic control with these interventions, including the reduction of long-term diabetes-related complications. These long-term complications compromise quality of life and ultimately account for mortality in most patients with diabetes. Despite the high price tag of managing the long-term complications of hyperglycemia, few economic incentives have been presented for investing in intensive glycemic control. Recent cost-benefit analyses, however, provide insight into the major cost drivers that yield a short-term return on investment for preventive measures. This article highlights cost-effective measures that have been successfully utilized in the managed care setting to simultaneously improve health and economic outcomes of diabetes within the first few years of implementation.