10 per cent of NHS drugs bill spent on diabetes

[DCUK NewsBot]

10 per cent of the NHS's drugs bill in England is spent on diabetes medication, according to new figures." The report, from The Health and Social Care Information Centre, found that the NHS spent a combined £869m on drugs for type 1 and type 2 diabetes last year. Ten years ago, diabetes medication accounted for only 6.6 per cent of the NHS drugs bill - a total of £514m. That said, the two types of diabetes often have very different treatments, and therefore incur different costs. The figures are somewhat skewed by conflating the costs of two diseases that in most cases are treated in different ways. Neither does the report define how many diabetes drugs are prescribed for prediabetes - in other words, for patients who do not yet actually have diabetes. Prediabetes, a label used to describe people at high risk of type 2 diabetes, is controversial: a study published last July described it as "unhelpful and unnecessary," and criticised the practice of prescribing anti-diabetes drugs to people with prediabetes, despite there being "no evidence of long-term benefits to starting the treatment early." Reports such as these, despite sounding negative, can trigger positive responses from government to improve support for people with type 2 diabetes, and people at risk of type 2 diabetes. Many cases of type 2 diabetes - although by no means all - are preventable through lifestyle changes. The report's authors explained that their findings illustrate the significance of diabetes rates in the UK. "It shows that 10p in the pound of the primary care prescribing bill in England is being spent on managing diabetes," said Ian Bullard, the report's author. "Diabetes continues to be one of the most prevalent long-term conditions, and the number of patients being diagnosed with the condition is increasing each year."

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[Grannia50]

I don't know if this is the right place to put this, but I am overweight, and started a quest for bariatric surgery many years ago when my daughter was 2, she is now 25, I had no life and was no use or fun for her growing up, I had been hospitalised for depression, had all the usual aches and pains that go with weight issues, struggled and fought with NHS Highland. Then was diagnosed with Diabetes 2, along with an auto immune disease, I was put on azathioprine for the auto immune issue, and metformin for the diabetes. If I was in England I would have had bariatric surgery, and my diabetes would be a thing of the past, but unfortunately I am in Scotland, and worse than that under NHS Highland. Fr some years now I have controlled my diabetes through diet and have managed to come of metformin, this is a temporary thing, my doctor, psychiatrist, sleep apnoea specialist, all tell me my health would vastly improve if I had surgery, and I would have some kind of life. I am now 53, and have been told the criteria in Scoltand has changed, and as I am over 44 I am too old for surgery. If my health board doesn't care about my health, what chance do I have. Before anyone decides that my weight issue is my own fault, as I am lazy, greedy etc. I was very fit and healthy before having my daughter, and again just after she was born, my weight issues came while in hospital, on medication, and having ECT. As I said I have managed to come off metformin, and control my diabetes, I also hold down a full time job (sometimes a struggle) so greed, or laziness is not the issue. Can anyone help me fight my case for surgery, with advice, or inside knowledge of NHS in Scotland, NHS Highland in particular. It would also be financially better for NHS.
Thank you