Diabetes to cost U.S. $3.35 trillion

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A report says half of Americans will have diabetes or show early symptoms by 2020 and the disease will cost the country $3.35 trillion in the next decade.

The report by the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization suggests possible steps to stem the rising tide and costs of diabetes, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.

"Our new research shows there is a diabetic time bomb ticking in America, but fortunately, there are practical steps that can be taken now to defuse it," Simon Stevens, executive vice president of UnitedHealth, said.

Suggestions included corporate wellness programs and using community organizations such as the YMCA to set up early intervention efforts.

Reducing diabetes could cut healthcare costs dramatically, the report said.

In 2009, the average annual healthcare cost for a person diagnosed with diabetes was $11,700, compared to an average of $4,400 for the rest of the population, data taken from UnitedHealth members said.