By: Christopher Snowbeck 

Per capita spending on patients with diabetes hit $16,021 in 2014, which was an increase of about 6 percent or $897 from the previous year, according to a report released Monday.

The average person in an employer plan during 2014, meanwhile, wracked up $4,396 in medical spending, which was up 3 percent compared with the previous year.

The numbers come from the Health Care Cost Institute, a research group that's backed by large national health insurers including Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group.

Spending increased primarily due to more ER visits and medication use among people with diabetes, according to the report, which is based on health care claims for more than 40 million Americans under age 65 covered by employer-sponsored health plans.

The report found people with diabetes used more mental health and cardiovascular disease services than others.