Background: Diabetes mellitus drains a significant percent of the health budget by cost toward direct diabetes care and diabetes-related disabilities.
Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the annual costs incurred by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was undertaken among 153 diabetic people in an urban underprivileged area of Bengaluru from January 2013 to January 2014. This was a cost of illness study done from the patient's perspective using a structured interview schedule.
Results: A diabetic person in an urban underprivileged community in Bengaluru spends 11,489.38 ± 28,341.77 annually for diabetic care. Direct and indirect costs accounted for 95% and 5% of costs. Majority were spent on admission (45.1%), followed by drugs (21.8%), investigations (5.6%), and consultations (4.5%). Nonmedical costs such as food and transport accounted for 18% of the costs. About 50% of them had delayed treatment due to financial constraints. Nearly 25% of patient's income and 10.7% of the family income were spent for diabetic care. Higher education, income, duration of disease, hospital admission, type of treatment, and place of treatment were found to be associated with costs.
Conclusion: Estimates of cost will help conceptualize strategies to deal with the situation at local, regional, and national level.
Keywords: Cost of illness; diabetes mellitus; underprivileged area.