Health-Seeking Behavior and Economic Burden of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern, affecting millions worldwide and placing a significant burden. This study aimed to assess the health-seeking behaviors and the economic burden of T2DM patients in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Methodology This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2019 to June 2020 at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Jaipur, India. A total of 400 T2DM patients, aged 18 years or older and diagnosed for at least six months, were included in the study. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire, focusing on sociodemographic characteristics, health-seeking behaviors, and the economic impact of T2DM. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) was used for data analysis. Results The study revealed that 50.5% of the participants sought treatment from government hospitals, while 28.7% preferred private healthcare. Allopathic medicine was the most common treatment approach (96.5%). Affordability was the main factor influencing healthcare choices (57.0%). The average annual expenditure on diabetes care was Indian rupees (INR) 15,204, with patients spending INR 1,267 monthly on treatment. About 73.5% of the participants spent between INR 10,001 and 20,000 annually on diabetes care, and 39.8% of patients allocated 0-10% of their monthly income to healthcare expenses. Conclusion The results suggest that affordability plays a crucial role in determining health-seeking behaviors. The findings call for policy interventions to improve access to affordable care and mitigate the financial impact of diabetes. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term economic consequences of managing T2DM in similar settings.