People with diabetes in the Medi-Cal system got more than three and a half billion dollars in care in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available. 

Although that accounts for less than ten percent of the total Medi-Cal budget for that year, Norman Williams of the California Department of Health Care Services says it's a big number.

WILLIAMS: "It's a significant number. It demonstrates how serious this problem is in California and in the United States."

The department notes that figure does not include services for diabetics paid for by other programs such as Medicare.

Care for diabetes patients is listed as Medi-Cal's second most costly. It's second only to those with hypertension, another lifestyle-related heath issue.