NHS diabetes drugs bill ‘on the rise’

The cost of providing diabetes drugs to NHS patients has risen to 8.4 per cent of the total bill for primary care drugs in England, new figures have shown.

Data from the NHS Information Centre revealed the total cost of diabetes treatments has now reached 725 million pounds per year.

It found the proportion spent by the NHS on diabetes drugs has risen from 6.6 per cent in 2005-6 and a total of 513 million pounds.

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."

New UK-wide physical activity guidelines were recently published in a joint release by the chief medical officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It stated that people should get at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week in order to help reduce their risks of developing conditions like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.