Diabetes is more common than many people think. According to the most recent figures, almost 40,000 Groningen residents currently have diabetes, which amounts to 6.8% of all residents in the province. There are, however, major local differences. In Pekela this even concerns 10% of the inhabitants. This and more is evident from research that Independer conducted based on the most recent Vektis data in the run-up to World Diabetes Day (November 14).
Proportionally, there are slightly more diabetics living in Groningen than in other provinces. Only in Drenthe and Limburg is the percentage higher. Here, 7.4% and 7.1% of residents respectively have been diagnosed with diabetes. The percentage is the lowest in Utrecht (5.1%).
Most diabetics live in these municipalities
There are major local differences within Groningen. According to the most recent figures, most people with diabetes live in Pekela. In this municipality, 10% of the residents have diabetes. The municipality even ranks second nationally after Tiel in Gelderland (15.3%). The top 5 municipalities in Groningen with the most diabetics:
- Pekela: 10% of the inhabitants have diabetes
- Stadskanaal: 9.7% of the residents have diabetes
- Westerwolde: 9% of the inhabitants have diabetes
- Central Groningen: 8.8% of residents have diabetes
- Veendam: 8.7% of the residents have diabetes
In Groningen city the percentage is the lowest (4.9%).
Price of medication rises for type 2 diabetes
The costs of diabetes medication have increased significantly in recent years. For example, someone with type 2 diabetes paid an average of 93.06 euros last year and in 2018 this was ‘only’ 35.57 euros. This is evident from research by Independer based on data from the Dutch Healthcare Institute. The two most common forms of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. The big difference is that type 1 is congenital and type 2 usually is not. Type 2 may be due to genes, but may also be related to lifestyle. In the Netherlands there are more than 1.1 million people with diabetes, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes. If we look at the reimbursement that insurers paid to pharmacies for patients with type 2 diabetes, we see a significant increase. In 2018, this cost an average of 35.57 euros per user per year and in 2022 this would increase to 93.06 euros. This amounts to an increase of 161.7%. The price increase is based on the 28 prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes.
The picture looks different for people with type 1 diabetes. They need treatment with insulin and the costs for this injection have generally decreased in price. The average reimbursement for all types of insulin together decreased per user by an average of 14.13% between 2018 and 2022.
Costs are covered by the deductible
The medicines for diabetes type 1 and type 2 are reimbursed by basic insurance. “If you have type 2 diabetes, you usually do not need to inject insulin, but initially you only use medication. These medications are reimbursed, but unfortunately at the expense of your deductible. In some cases you also have to pay a personal contribution for your medicines, but this may differ per insurer. So pay close attention to the conditions before you compare or take out insurance,” says Mirjam Prins, health insurance expert at Independer.
For more information about the research: https://www.independer.nl/zorgverzekering/info/onderzoek/diabetes
