An estimated 1.05 million adult Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes; The annual cost of diabetes in Texas is estimated at $4 billion. …
Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes:
Diabetes Education Program Improves Lives and Saves Health Care Costs
A Growing and Costly Issue
An estimated 105 million adult Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes; another 05 million have undiagnosed diabetes The annual cost of diabetes in Texas is estimated at 4 billion Texas is projected to have a greater incidence rate and increased costs in the future due to the growing population of Hispanics, who are at greater risk for the disease
The Extension Response: Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes
Diabetes is not curable, but it is manageable People can learn skills to effectively manage their diabetes, but education has not been readily available Developed an educational series aimed toward lasting lifestyle changes related to nutrition, exercise, monitoring blood sugar levels, and other topics Taught by local health care professionals and county Extension agents In its fifth year, the program is now offered in over 140 counties statewide
Economic Benefit
Annual health care costs for people without diabetes are estimated between 2,560 and 5,642, and at 13,243 for people with diabetes Proper self-management of the disease enables people with
diabetes to reduce their health care costs close to non-diabetes levels The potential lifetime health care cost savings are an estimated 72,732 per female participant and 57,179 per male participant in the program For the 443 male and 948 female program participants in 2006, the total economic benefit is estimated at 97 million
A detailed article Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes - MKT 3557A on the economic analysis is available at http://agrilifeextensiontamuedu Click on Economic Impact Studies Edward G Smith Director Texas AgriLife Extension Service 7101 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-7101 9798457967 e-mail: egsmith@tamuedu January 2007
Added Individual and Community Benefits
Reaches communities and individuals who do not have access to diabetes education Enables a better quality of life and productivity for people with diabetes Reduces the strain on medical services and state funding such as Medicaid
Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin MKT-3558A Produced by Agricultural Communications
