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The number of items prescribed for diabetes in England increased by 135 per cent between 2016-17 and 2025-26, according to official figures published today.

A report by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) reveals 83 million items were prescribed to 4.1 million patients at a total cost of £2.3 billion. That compared with 52 million items in 2016-17 at a cost of £985 million. Diabetes treatments accounted for 20 per cent of total spend on all prescribed items in 2025-26, up from 11 per cent in 2016-17.

Anti-diabetic drugs, which lower blood glucose levels and are primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, were the most prescribed diabetes treatment in 2025-26, with 64 million items prescribed at a cost of £1.5 billion. That made up 64 per cent of total diabetes drug costs. 

The NHSBSA said: “Much of the cost increase over the past decade has been driven by the prescribing of SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists and improved glucose monitors.”

GLP-1 receptor agonists accounted for six per cent of items prescribed for diabetes and 33 per cent of the total cost. The cost of Tirzepatide increased by 377 per cent between 2024-25 and 2025-26, going from £120 million to £574 million. It was the most prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist in 2025-26 with 3.1 million items.

The report also revealed men aged 65 to 69 were most commonly prescribed drugs to treat diabetes, with 300,000 patients in that group accounting for seven per cent of all identified patients. Fifty-five per cent of patients were male and 45 per cent were female.

Most patients prescribed diabetes medication were in the most deprived parts of the country, with 386,000 more patients in areas of greatest deprivation than the least deprived.