In this way, the need for hospital stays could be reduced significantly, thus enabling scant resources to be dedicated to other aspects of diabetes care. Primary prevention protects susceptible individuals from developing diabetes. It has an impact by reducing both the need for diabetes care and the need to treat diabetic complications. A reliable example of this measure is a study undertaken among a susceptible population in China. This type of measure is easy and low-cost and can be used in even the poorest regions of the world and when resources are limited.
Secondary prevention includes early detection, prevention and treatment.
Appropriate action taken at the right time is beneficial in terms of quality of life, and is very cost-effective, especially if it can prevent hospital admission. Another finance-saving strategy is the prevention of foot ulceration and amputation. Screening and early treatment for retinopathy is also very cost-effective, given the devastating direct, indirect and intangible costs of blindness. Screening for protein in urine is another valid preventive measure to prevent or slow down the inevitable progression to kidney failure. Furthermore, there is evidence that screening for traces of protein is cost saving, as it allows even earlier intervention in the natural course of kidney disease.