Diabetes' Costs in Time and Treasure

Hi. I am Jay Shubrook, a family physician and professor at Touro University, California. I am here today at the 78th Scientific Sessions of American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Florida.

We all know that diabetes is a disease associated with significant costs. Currently, 1 out of 4 US healthcare dollars are spent on a person with diabetes,^[1] making it one of the single largest expenses in the United States.

A recent survey by Upwell illustrated many other expenses at the personal level associated with diabetes. This online survey, conducted in 2017, included 5255 people. The investigators looked at the personal time and emotional costs of having diabetes, because we know that diabetes can present an overwhelming burden that can consume a person's life. The survey had several important results.

First of all, let's look at absenteeism and presenteeism. Absenteeism means that you have missed work because of your illness; presenteeism means that you have made it to work, but you are not fully functional. In this survey, 55% of people reported that they missed work because of their diabetes. This is a significant cost to society.

At the personal level, almost 40% of people reported that they gave up hobbies or other personal interests, and 46% said that they missed outings and other personal events due to their diabetes.