BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the cost of diabetes mellitus, its impact on health spending in Mexico, and its percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP). METHODS: There was a four-stage approach: identification of the epidemiology of the use of health services; estimate of treatment cost; determination of the diabetic population, and calculation of the percentage of health spending. RESULTS: The average annual cost per diabetic patient was $708 U.S. dollars (USD), the total annual cost of diabetics was $2,618,000 USD, the percentage of health spending was 15.48%, and the percentage of the GDP was 0.79%. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to seek strategies that allow for a more efficient use of resources designated for type 2 diabetes treatment.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the cost of diabetes mellitus, its impact on health spending in Mexico, and its percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP). METHODS: There was a four-stage approach: identification of the epidemiology of the use of health services; estimate of treatment cost; determination of the diabetic population, and calculation of the percentage of health spending. RESULTS: The average annual cost per diabeticpatient was $708 U.S. dollars (USD), the total annual cost of diabetics was $2,618,000 USD, the percentage of health spending was 15.48%, and the percentage of the GDP was 0.79%. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to seek strategies that allow for a more efficient use of resources designated for type 2 diabetes treatment.