NHS bills rising due to diabetes surge

A new study has found that the cost of diabetes for the NHS has risen dramatically in the last year. It was shown that treating the metabolic condition currently amounts to almost a tenth of all annual treatments in England, costing the NHS GBP725 million during 2010/2011.
This figure, 8.4 per cent of the total spend, was a rise of 41 per cent on the amount spent on diabetes treatments only five years ago, and is due to the amount of people suffering from the condition rising by almost fifth to more than 2.3 million in the same time period.
The data, from the NHS Information Centre, also revealed that one in every 25 prescriptions is for diabetes, mostly for type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity and lifestyle, but that are necessary to help control the condition and prevent it getting even worse in patients.
Bridget Turner, head of policy and care improvement at the charity Diabetes UK, commented “This report reinforces that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges this country faces.”
She added “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.”