According to some estimates, as many as 56% of those suffering from diabetes have developed some comlications.
Rahelic presents figures showing that in 2009, Croatia spent some 2.5 billion kuna, which accounted for 11% of the budget of Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), for treating diabetes and its complications, and 86% of that 2.5 billion kuna went on treating chronic complications.
A new study shows that in 2016, the cost of addressing diabetes in 2016 required 4.5 billion kuna, nearly a fifth (20%) of the HZZO budget, and the lion's share, 88%, went on chronic complications.
Doctor Rahelic says that spending on medicines for this disease accounts now only for 8-9 per cent of costs for diabetes treatment.
Rahelic calls for reorganisation of the system of care for diabetes patients and work on prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is partly preventable by staying a normal weight, exercising regularly, and eating properly.
(EUR 1= HRK 7.38)