Soaring obesity levels mean NHS is now spending 8% of its entire medicines bill treating diabetes

  • Cost rises to £725m from £513m four years ago
By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 1:53 AM on 25th August 2011



Britain’s obesity crisis has led to a massive increase in the amount of money spent on drugs to treat diabetes, figures show.
Diabetes drugs now account for 8.4 per cent of the NHS medicines bill, costing taxpayers £725 million a year.
The amount spent in 2010/11 was up an enormous 41 per cent on the £513 million spent in 2005/06. This compares to an 11 per cent rise in the overall cost of the NHS drugs bill between the two periods.
Obesity has been linked to the spiralling number of people developing type 2 diabetes, a condition which the NHS spends 8.4% of its budget treating
Obesity has been linked to the spiralling number of people developing type 2 diabetes, a condition which the NHS spends 8.4% of its budget treating
One in every 25 prescription items now dispensed is for diabetes - accounting for 38.3 million items, according to the England data from the NHS Information Centre. This is up 41 per cent on the number in 2005/06 (27.1 million).

Most of the rise is down to the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

More...


Around a quarter of adults of now obese – so fat their health is in danger, but experts believe that by 2050 this could exceed 50 per cent.
There are 2.5 million people in the UK with Type 2 diabetes while a further 850,000 people are estimated to be undiagnosed.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TYPES 1 AND 2 DIABETES


Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin output because of auto-immune damage to the pancreas gland.
The most common cause in Type 1 diabetes is the body’s own immune system.
Insulin-producing cells in the pancreas of people with Type 1 diabetes are destroyed by cells that normally defend us from invading organisms.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insufficient production of insulin in the pancreas and a resistance to the action of insulin in the body's cells - especially in muscle, fat and liver cells.
This form is strongly associated with being overweight, but it's less clear what causes it.
In the first few years after diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes high levels of insulin circulate in the blood because the pancreas can still produce the hormone.
Eventually insulin production dwindles.
It follows warnings that the NHS could be bankrupt by the middle of the decade unless Britain gets to grips with what has been called the ‘obesity timebomb’.
Many people are on a combination of drugs to try to keep their blood sugar levels under control, and two out of three items now dispensed manage the body’s own production of insulin.
The next most commonly issued drugs are injectable insulins, which are vital when the pancreas cannot produce enough of the hormone itself.
Insulin works by keeping the level of sugar in the bloodstream within a normal range.
NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: ‘Today’s report paints a picture of an ever increasing drugs bill to cope with the demands of society triggered by diabetes.
‘This information will help people and health professionals see the impact that caring for diabetes has on NHS prescribing; and support the NHS in planning for how to best address the condition moving forward.’
Bridget Turner, head of policy and care improvement at Diabetes UK, said: ‘This report reinforces that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges this country faces.
‘Increasing diabetes prevalence has largely caused this rise in cost and numbers of prescriptions. Diabetes UK believes that people should have access to the most appropriate treatment to manage their diabetes and reduce the risk of devastating complications.
‘The long-term costs of poor diabetes management, such as caring for someone who’s had a heart attack or stroke, lost their sight or lower limb, far outweigh those of the drugs that help prevent such complications.
‘Investment in education, support and improving access to reduce variations of care will empower people to effectively self-manage their condition. This will tackle the spiralling rates and costs of diabetes and help those diagnosed with the condition stay healthy.’
Obesity also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and certain types of cancer.