Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a major public health issue, with the number of cases continuously increasing. This results in significant direct and indirect costs, representing a massive economic burden on the healthcare system. In Romania, costs are covered through the National Diabetes Program, so analyzing the cost trends can help better allocate funds, potentially improving program efficiency in the long term. Using a retrospective descriptive study with data on medication and monitoring costs for diabetes patients in Constanța County from 2018-2022, provided by the National Health Insurance House, it was found that the total number of patients reimbursed for antidiabetic medications steadily increased, with costs in 2022 almost doubling compared to the start of the study period. Non-insulin medication generated the most significant costs, being 4-6 times higher than those for insulin. The results highlight the growing economic challenges associated with proper diabetes management, emphasizing the need for more efficient solutions to reduce costs.