Diabetes Prevention Cuts Health Care Costs

Programs to prevent type 2 diabetes can lower people’s health care costs over time, a new study finds. The new analysis took a close look at data from the Diabetes Prevention Program. That study explored ways to prevent type 2 diabetes. Everyone in the study had a high risk of developing the disease. One group made changes in diet and exercised more. They aimed for a 7% weight loss. People in this group lowered their risk of type 2 diabetes 58%. Another group took the drug metformin. Their chance of developing diabetes was 31% lower than for those who got placebo (fake) pills. The new study looked at 10-year health care costs for all 3 groups. This included the costs of the program and medicine, plus other health care. Costs averaged $27,915 per person for the metformin group and $28,236 for the placebo group.