OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the costs of early detection of DM in the Polish population. METHODS: An analysis of the costs of diagnosis of DM in primary care was based on an epidemiological study “Screen-Pol 2”, which was performed in 2003 and 2004, in 119 centres situated throughout Poland. The detection of DM was carried out according to ADA and WHO criteria. During the diagnostic process the following tests were performed: random blood capillary glucose (RBCG), fasting venous plasma concentration (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance (OGTT). The tests constituted sequential steps in a diagnostic pathway used in primary care in Poland. Third party payer perspective was applied. RESULTS: A total of 11,418 undiagnosed patients took part in the study. The average cost of detection of DM was 23.22€*. The cost of detection of one case of DM only by RBCG was 20.62€. The cost of detection of DM with FPG was 29.43€ and 171.15€ (if repeated). When OGTT was used the cost of each case of DM detected reached 390.93€. CONCLUSIONS: The early detection of DM is a simple and cheap procedure, when introduced as a screening programme. It is 23 times less expensive than one year’s treatment of a single case of DM in terms of direct medical costs and 64 times cheaper in terms of indirect costs. (* 1 Euro = 4.6 PLN)