The additional cost of intensive treatment of type 2 diabetes is largely offset by the savings made in treating complications, a study has found. The United Kingdom prospective diabetes study (UKPDS) group has concluded that the cost of intensive blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes is "largely offset" by the significantly reduced costs of complications and the increased time free of complications. The study examined 3,867 patients with type 2 diabetes. It found that intensive blood glucose control compared with conventional control increased the cost of antidiabetic treatment for each patient by an average of £659 over the duration of the study (median 10 years). The cost of blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin tests was increased by £139 in the intensive treatment group. There was no difference in the cost of other drugs or clinic visits. Intensive treatment reduced the cost of complications by £957 per patient compared with conventional therapy. The biggest of these complication costs was hospital admissions. Intensive therapy cut hospital costs because stays were reduced. A small reduction in the number of admissions was also recorded. The authors translate the results into clinical practice using an example of a practice covering 10,000 patients, of whom 100-190 would have type 2 diabetes at any one time. Intensive therapy would cost an additional £1,435 per patient (£140 per year), giving a total additional annual cost for the practice of £14,000-£27,000. The cost would be offset by a saving of £10,000-£18,000 on treating complications, they say (British Medical Journal 2000;320:1373).