People With Diabetes Cutting Back On Care During Recession

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Public Health;  Eye Health / Blindness;  Stroke
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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People with diabetes increasingly are cutting back on doctor visits, treatment and testing during the economic recession, thus risking complications like amputation, vision loss, stroke and death, according to an Associated Press analysis, the AP/New York Daily News reports.

According to the analysis, physicians have seen a decrease in appointments by people with diabetes, and some patients never return. In addition, sales of popular medications and other products that treat and monitor the disease have decreased, the analysis found. Many people with diabetes are choosing cheaper insulin injections rather than more costly drug therapy, according to the analysis (AP/New York Daily News, 4/13).

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© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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