The number of prescriptions for treating diabetes in England has reached 40 million

Posted 14/08/2012

The BBC has reported a 50% increase in diabetes prescriptions in six years and a 6.1% (2.3 million) rise in the number of items prescribed in 2010-11.

The data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveals that in England, 2.5 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and the number is expected to reach 4.2 million by 2025.

Health officials are warning of the financial impact on the NHS.

The net cost of diabetes drugs, including treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, also rose by just under 50% in the six years between 2005-06 and 2011-12.

Diabetes UK have said that a government funded awareness-raising campaign on the risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is needed and we need to get much better at identifying people at high risk so they can be given the support they need to prevent the condition.

Sophie Bales, a medical injury solicitor at Ashtons Legal commented:“As our lifestyles change, diabetes is becoming more and more of a problem in the UK. It is crucial that Type 2 Diabetes is prevented if possible. One way of doing this is identifying those who are high at risk. Therefore, a government funded risk awareness campaign is a welcome step. Furthermore, it is crucial that a patient with Type 2 Diabetes is treated and monitored appropriately. If they are not, it can lead to a disastrous outcome”.