Study Offers Detailed Look At Global Economic Impact Of Diabetes

British researchers who analyzed data from 109 studies found that diabetes, in addition to imposing a severe cost burden, also makes it significantly more difficult to find employment or earn a decent wage. The study on the global economic impact of diabetes found that the disease hits the poor hardest, with higher costs for people in low and middle income countries. Detailed information includes the direct costs of the disease (i.e., doctor and hospital visits, medication, lab test costs, and equipment costs), but also indirect costs such as income lost due to early retirement, and lost work hours due to illness. In the U.S., diabetics have the highest healthcare costs, an estimated $283,000 over a lifetime, much higher than in other countries with comparable per capita income levels.