Diabetes

Perspectives in Health, Jan, 2007

A number of interventions are particularly appropriate for developing countries because the savings in medical costs associated with short- and long-term complications of diabetes greatly exceed the costs of interventions such as glycemic control, blood pressure control, and foot care. In addition, assuring adequate access to insulin and promoting patient education -both relatively low-cost interventions-should be top priorities for developing countries.

Moreover, interventions that empower patients, such as reminders to make follow-up appointments, can be successful components of diabetes programs.