title: [Increasing cost of insulin therapy in Belgium. From a critical analysis of the situation to a search for practical solutions].
abstract: Cost related to insulin therapy is markedly increasing in Belgium, as in other Eucopean countries. In the present paper, we will briefly analyze the main reasons for such aa increase, integrate such observation withIn the global context of diabetes management and suggest some solutions to provide best care to insulin-treated diabetic patients at a reasonable cost. The rise of the cost of insulin therapy has a multifactorial origin. It mainly results from an increase in the number of diabetic patients, a more intensive management, In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and a greater use of more expansive insulin analogues. It is important to analyze the increase of the cost of insulin therapy within the global burden of diabetes melitus. Only a better responsibility of all health care partners, patients, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, public health authorities, could provide solutions allowing diabetic people to profit from best treatments they should receive in order to prevent diabetic complications, by far the main cause of expenses.
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, Service de Diabétologie, Nutrition et Maladies métaboliques, Département de Médecine, CHU Sart Tilman, Belgique.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheen
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin