In 2012, the London School of Economics carried out a study, which calculated that the indirect costs associated with diabetes (such as reduced productivity, absenteeism, early retirement, social expenditure and expenditure on care) in the five largest countries amount to a total of EUR 98.4 billion. Added to this there are the direct costs of approximately EUR 90 billion. In total, therefore, diabetes costs the five largest countries alone EUR 188.4 billion per year.

Can the Commission confirm these figures?

In light of these high costs, what measures does it plan to take over and above the current CHRODIS Joint Action to ensure that treatment is optimised in order to reduce these unnecessary indirect costs as much as possible and to improve the quality of life of diabetes patients in Europe?