I'd seen the political ads on TV from the AMA, as well as had printed off AHA's 2008 statement of principles for healthcare reform for a little night-time reading…

The AP synopsis of diabetes drug costs in the newspaper this morning stated, "Diabetes drug costs soaring in the U.S." Chicago- Americans with diabetes nealry doubled their spending on drugs for the disease in just six years, with the bill last year climbing to an eye-popping $12.5 billion. Newer, more costly drugs are driving the increase, said researchers, despite a lack of strong evidence for the new drugs' greater benefits and safety. And there are more people being treated for diabetes. The new study follows updated treatment advice for DM2, issued last week."

Apparently, then, I've not read the first AP article.

When I fill in at retail drugstores, I see a lot of generic metformin and glyburide dispensed (not so many 'glitazones' even from last year).

From my hospital practice, I see insulin pens go out the door, and that the diabetes educator is pretty busy with getting info to the patient, so my impression is that we in healthcare doing a better job at detecting hyperglycemia and diagnosing DM2 comparatively to 10 years ago.

So, as for drug costs, occasionally a Byetta drug rep will have detailed a doc and a patient will be admitted once in a blue moon on that expensive injectable, as well as the oral forms, but I don't see so much fine-tuning with this type of drug–more emphasis on evaluation, diagnosis, and testing.