In the Era of Budgetary Constraints, Cost-Effective Management of Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes, and Obesity is Essential

The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome have escalated in recent years, with skyrocketing associated management costs. Insufficient mass education on importance of healthy diet, adequate physical activities, and the lack of preventative measures are the most common reasons for this. In most countries, departments of health carry the financial burden. However, in western, industrialized countries, the cost is shared in varied proportions by the governments and insurance companies. Although the aforementioned entities pay these bills, costs eventually trickle down to consumers and taxpayers. The current approach of standardized care, a one-treatment-fits-all model, is inefficient in achieving the desired goal of preventing long-term complications and ads to the cost of managing these common diseases. A cause-driven, individualized approach may seem time consuming but likely to be the most cost-effective in the long run in controlling these diseases and containing costs through the prevention of long-term complications.