Diabetes, the most expensive disease in the world?

I heard earlier today that United Healthcare released a report on costs related to diabetes. A reporter on APM's Marketplace called it the most expensive disease in the world.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/23/pm-diabetes-to-become-most-expensive-disease

Why is it the most expensive disease in the world? Because according to UHC, as reported in Bloomberg, diabetes will cost more than $3 trillion over the next decade.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-23/unitedhealth-says-diabetes-will-cost-3-4-trillion-over-the-next-decade.html

Thus diabetes, the biggest cause of blindness and kidney failure in this country, poses a tremendous opportunity for innovative healthcare to address costs and save lives. Already the FDA is proactively encouraging collaboration to develop an artificial pancreas.

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/11/fda-artificial-pancreas-hearing-beating-a-path-to-the-real-world.html

I'm a proponent of lifestyle changes, which prevents development of diabetes, and also helps control blood sugar levels in someone with diabetes. Even here, mobile technology is being investigated that may help people make the necessary changes needed.

http://cwphs.calit2.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=61

If the next decade or two will be the decade of diabetes as the world's population gets wealthier and adopts a fat- and calorie-rich diet, it will also be the decade where people invent amazing ways to deal with the disease.