Last month Bev addressed a news article that found high tech diabetes management did not equate to better diabetes care. Doctors felt that electronic care is only as good as the patient willing to participate beyond office visits. However, another service is trying to evolve the preconceived notions with a more developed system - and a bigger bang for the buck. How does $14.5 billion sound?

Information technology enabled diabetes management (ITDM) was found to be beneficial in avoiding diabetic complications - MILLIONS of cases. This is an overzealous finding - considering the word prevent is permanent and should probably be replaced with delayed. Even the DCCT knew that much. However, the study was conducted over a period exclusive to the program, and not the lifespan of diabetics in the study. However patient compliance did grow from less than 50% to approximately 80%. That would evoke a few halleluiahs from doctors. Another reason in support of ITDM is the fact that an electronic diabetes registry offers Medicare and other payers the ability to save quite a bit. Over 10 years, the overall net savings is estimated to be $14.5 billion. Does that figure include COLA - cost of long-term diabetes complications adjustment? The complications that did not occur in 2008 saved Medicare and payers $1.45 billion. Score! What is the inflation adjusted cost of those delayed complications occurring in 2013?

The headcount standing at 20 million diabetics, at a savings of $1.45 billion per year - I asked for clarification on that figure. The savings is speculative because the company is anticipating saving costs on preventing diabetic complications. That's optimistic but not entirely realistic.