In one year, charges for treating Type 2 diabetes in the Pittsburgh area have jumped 48 percent for emergency room visits and 29 percent for inpatient care, a new study has found.

"From what I understand, Pittsburgh is not an anomaly. They have seen charges for Type 2 diabetes increase all across the country," said Pittsburgh Business Group on Health Executive Director Christine Whipple. "We don't know why. I think that is one of the questions raised by the report."

According to the business group's newly released annual Type 2 Diabetes Report, emergency room charges that were $996 on average in 2006 rose to $1,476 in 2007.

Inpatient charges, meanwhile, went from an average of $34,871 to $45,122, and average outpatient charges rose from $3,062 to $3,677.

Those numbers are still below the statewide averages, however: $1,787 for emergency room treatment, $57,783 for inpatient care and $4,862 for outpatients. National figures fall between the Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania numbers.

Across all settings, average annual professional charges for services provided to Type 2 diabetes patients at inpatient Pennsylvania hospitals was $4,190, well below the $6,070 national average. And charges for Medicare patients in Pennsylvania actually declined, from $4,127 in 2006 to $3,934 in 2007.

In truth, few people actually pay the full charges because their insurance company negotiates reduced prices. But charges were the only information the business group had to work with, Ms. Whipple said.

This is the second year PBGH has compiled data on Type 2 diabetes treatment. An estimated 5 percent to 7 percent of the U.S. population has Type 2 diabetes, which comprises more than 90 percent of all diabetes cases. It is slightly more common in women than men. It also is a condition that can be alleviated by lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.

PBGH is a nonprofit coalition of 64 members employing more than 1 million workers, their dependents and retirees. Ms. Whipple said costs related to treating diabetes were a particular concern for its members with older employees because of the growing costs.