Otago study reveals hidden cost of diabetes for hospitals

National programmes must be developed to reduce preventable admissions, says researcher

The annual cost of admitting and treating diabetic patients at two New Zealand hospitals exceeded $40 million in 2016-17, suggesting the national cost would be “frightening”, a study by the University of Otago has found.

The figure is based on in-patient costs for two hospitals in the Dunedin region of the South Island.