OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a health condition that, due to its high prevalence, presence of complications and control and treatment, has an expenditure associated estimated around USD $760,000 mill and expected to increase in 2045 to USD $845,000 millions. The aim is to estimate the direct cost of managing Diabetes mellitus in patients of an insured health policy in Colombia in 2019.

METHODS: descriptive cost of illness study using top-down approach, cost-generating groupers were identified, and metabolic control was established. Using glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), atypical data were identified and treated using the box and whisker method, the mean annual cost for the cohort and by degree of metabolic control was estimated.

RESULTS: total cost of program was USD$5.559.482,38 for 3085 patients. The median annual cost for the cohort was USD$ 17.596,79 (IQR USD$ 7.564,38 - USD$ 42.197,96). The median costs of hospitalization was USD$ 45.872,15 (IQR USD$ 20.862,26 - USD$ 91.686,84), The median costs of diagnostic support was USD$ 6.189,15 (IQR USD$ 3.406,78 - USD$ 11.302,61). The median cost in controlled DM2 was USD$ 734 (IQR USD$ 3.883,99 - USD$ 18.945,10) per year, while in uncontrolled the median was USD$ 831.6 (IQR USD$ 3.680,39 - USD$ 23.252,86) per year.

CONCLUSIONS: the medical direct costs of this cohort with DM2 are given by hospital care and diagnostic aids, as possible factors associated with the increase in costs, age and comorbidities were observed, highlighting the importance of maintaining comprehensive control measures.