• Diabetes prescriptions cost 760.3million last year - this was 8.9 per cent of the total NHS drugs bill
  • We face the real possibility of diabetes bankrupting the NHS within a generation, says diabetes charity chief
  • Around 850,000 people are thought to have diabetes without realising it

By Jenny Hope

PUBLISHED: 05:05 EST, 14 August 2012 | UPDATED: 18:25 EST, 14 August 2012


A record 40million prescriptions were made out for diabetes drugs last year – a rise of nearly 50 per cent in six years.

Official figures reveal the spiralling cost of the disease to the NHS, as the drugs bill also shot up by almost half over the period – to 760.3million, the highest ever.

Nine out of ten diabetes sufferers have Type 2 diabetes, which is strongly linked to being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating an unhealthy diet.

Growing problem: Obesity is one of the biggest risk-factors for developing Type 2 diabetes

Growing problem: Obesity is one of the biggest risk-factors for developing Type 2 diabetes

The diabetes drugs bill went up from 514million in 2005-06 to 760.3million last year – and accounted for almost 10 per cent of the overall bill for all drugs prescribed last year.

There are 2.8million diabetes sufferers in the UK and an additional 850,000 people who are unaware they have it.

This compares with 1.9million patients who were on GPs' books as having diabetes in 2005/06. Health minister Simon Burns said 'The number of people with diabetes has been rising for years, mainly because of an increase in the number of people who are obese due to lack of exercise and unhealthy diets.

'That has obviously led to an increase in the number having diabetes drugs prescribed for them.'

The overall bill for diabetes drugs last year included those for Type 2, accounting for 70 per cent of items dispensed and costing 281million, and insulin, mainly used to manage Type 1 diabetes, at 314million.

Prescriptions include insulin injections, which are usually given to those suffering from Type 1 diabetes

Prescriptions include insulin injections, which are usually given to those suffering from Type 1 diabetes

Last year, while the overall NHS drugs bill fell by one per cent, the diabetes drugs bill rose by nearly five per cent.

Data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre for England showed the number of prescription items for diabetes rose from 27.1million in 2005-06 to 40.6million in 2011-12.

Tim Straughan, its chief executive, said 'Our figures show diabetes is having a growing impact on prescribing in a very obvious way.

'Other reports we produce also demonstrate the impact of diabetes is widespread in all areas of the health service: from pharmacy to hospital care.

'When all this information is considered together, it presents a full and somewhat-concerning picture'

Diabetic drugs include metformin and a class of medication called sulfonylureas, but do not include statins and blood pressure lowering agents which many diabetics also take.

Barbara Young, chief executive of the Diabetes UK charity, said: 'The number of people with diabetes is expected to reach 4.2million in England by 2025.

'We face the real possibility of diabetes bankrupting the NHS within a generation. This is why we need to grasp the nettle on preventing Type 2 diabetes.

'We need a government-funded awareness-raising campaign on the risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes and we need to get much better at identifying people at high risk.'

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include being overweight, having a large waist and being physically inactive and having a family history of the condition.

It occurs when the body gradually loses the ability to process blood sugar, leading to high levels which can damage body organs and years of ill-health.

Mr Burns said: 'We know the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by eating a healthy diet and increasing activity levels.

'That's why last year we launched a call to action to wipe five billion calories off the nation's waistline each day and through Change4Life we are encouraging everyone to eat less and move more.'

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Perhaps patients of type 2 should contribute to the cost of their medication especially as it can be viewed as at least partially, self induced.

Report abuse

So, people with nothing to hide have everything to fear from whimsical and tyrannical authorities. The question is who will they pick on next, deciding that they object to our hitherto lawful conduct. So, now there is a decision to question the small cost of diabetes medication, and are they objecting to treating people who have diabetes? I notice that some of the comments indicate a loathsome lack of humanity towards certain diabetics.

Report abuse

Charge the full price for the medication for people with a high BMI and just watch the fat drop off.

Report abuse

The surge in the numbers of both children and adults classified as obese occurred in the 1990s. Those levels have remained fairly constant for about the last ten years and are now showing signs of decreasing. This is the usual propaganda by a "charity" looking to increase its income, usual derived from gullible donors, the taxpayer and Big Pharma.

Report abuse

Global food prices jumped six percent between June and July 2012, the beginning of another crop shock. This summer's American droughts have led to soaring corn and wheat prices in anticipation of a poor harvest. Time to go hi-veg/hi-protein, gluten-free and carb-free. Cut out carbs and reduce indigestion, heartburn. Buy only European food, not poisoned by American GMO. France for example is a net food exporter. [Advice does not apply to UKIPlonkers].

Report abuse

== my GP was all out to give me medication for Type 2 diabetes when all I needed was exercise, have dinner no later than 9.00pm and get a good night's sleep..... diabetes is rising because of the fad for high carb / low fat diets; too much sugar and carbs in processed food.. - me, london == Quite true. Doctors use 'Diabetes type 2' as a euphemism for 'fat as a pig', just as, in the 1970s, the slightest skin blemish was 'incurable herpes'. I suspect DT2 does not really exist, except as a combination of fatness and the ills of old age. Try the Swedish high protein/fat, low carb regime [nor dramatic enough to be a fad diet]. It's a bit like the palaeolithic diet - no bread, cake, rice, pasta, fill up on veg, fruit, fish, meat, and butter. Google Dr Annika Dahlqvist. Enjoy. - brooke, winchester, 14/8/2012 21:27 Which is exactly what the Atkins diet is all about.

Report abuse

Start smoking again as an appetite suppressant there is nothing more effective of course it will kill you but the death is quicker you will cut the NHS bill also you will probably not receive your pension this will help the economy enormously by A increasing tobacco revenues B cutting benefit payments C cutting the NHS spend plus you will probably not be as miserable

Report abuse

Problem solved - Nationalise the drug companies!

Report abuse

"You can CURE most diabetes by regular fasting or raw juice fasting. - Max, South of England, 14/8/2012 18:24...Yes that's true, IF your diabetes is caused from obesity. Of course you have to do it long enough to lose a lot of weight.

Report abuse

== What will bankrupt the NHS is treating half the world for free - clifs, Southampton, == That would be 3.5 billion individuals, then. I suppose they must all be hiding. Or do you get your thoughts from the UKIP Fifth Dimension Factbook?

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.