The Health and Social Care Information Centre has published a report this week on diabetes prescribing data in England between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2013. The report reveals, among other findings, the following:
- Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 there were 42.5 million items prescribed for diabetes (British National Formulary [BNF] section 6.1) at a net ingredient cost of £764.1 million.
- In this period, there were 6.2 million insulin items (BNF 6.1.1), representing 14.6% of all diabetes items prescribed, at a net ingredient cost of £320 million. Human analogue insulins were the most commonly prescribed form of insulin.
- Since the financial year of 2005–06, prescribing items and net ingredient cost for antidiabetes drugs have increased by 83.9% and 86%, respectively.
- Diabetes accounted for 9.3% of the total cost of prescribing in 2012–13 compared with 6.6% in 2005–06.
For access to the full report, visit www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB11422.
