Research Topic and Outline

Impact of Diabetes on Healthcare Costs Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Course Name & Code Instructor’s Name Date Impact of Diabetes on Healthcare Costs Introduction Diabetes is a compound metabolic disorder defined by hyperglycemia, a condition characterized by a persistent surge in levels of blood glucose. It is a lifetime disease without a cure and thus demands lifelong management, such as regular monitoring, medication, and treatment of other complications, including kidney failure and neuropathy. These conditions instill a substantial economic burden, especially as diabetes prevalence is likely to soar as a result of lifestyle changes, aging populations, and numerous cases of obesity on the rise. This paper aims to reflect on the impacts of the condition on healthcare costs, including economic effects, parties involved, market forces influencing this disease, its demand and supply, and the role of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The paper also analyzes health disparities within this issue, how different global markets have improved diabetes care, and international mechanisms to help solve the economic burden. Overview of the Issue Diabetes is a chronic condition occurring when a person's body fails to control blood levels efficiently and effectively. Diabetes is rising alarmingly, where 8.8% of adults globally had diabetes in 2017, with an expected increase to 9.9% by 2045 (Standl et al., 2019). Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting from a deficiency in endogenous insulin discharge from the pancreatic β- cells and mainly affects all people of all ages, although young adults are more susceptible (Ilonen et al., 2019). Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with lifestyle factors such as alcohol drinking, smoking, sedentary behavior, and obesity. This disorder accounts for costly complications if left unregulated, making it a significant burden on the healthcare system. American Diabetes Association (2018) found that the cost of diagnosed diabetes was $237 billion in direct medical costs and $90 billion in declined productivity in 2017. These figures pinpoint the economic significance of solving diabetes efficiently since it puts pressure on the nation's healthcare resources and affects overall productivity. Why Is This Issue a Concern From a Health Care Economics Perspective? Keenly controlling diabetes is essential in avoiding longstanding health complications even though skyrocketing costs are imposing hindrances to treatment. The condition is one of the most expensive chronic diseases, and individuals with this condition incur 2.6 times more medication than those without diabetes (Parker et al., 2023). The rising consumption of expensive insulin analogs, several doctor visits, and treatment for conditions like amputation, kidney failure, and cardiovascular diseases have led to increased costs. The economic liability is especially worrying since diabetes, including type, is preventable by embracing simple steps like exercising more, quitting smoking, and eating healthy. Major Parties Involved The major parties or stakeholders involved in diabetes care include patients, healthcare providers like nurses and dietitians, pharmaceutical industries, government programs like Medicaid, and insurance organizations. Patients incur yearly medical expenditures like regular physician visits, medications, productivity losses, and out-of-pocket expenses. Health providers offer diabetes self-management support and educa...