The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has published the annual ‘Prescribing for Diabetes 2015/16 to 2023/24’ statistical report which shows that there were 71 million items used in treating diabetes prescribed in England in 2023/24.  

Key findings show that this was a 42% increase from 50 million diabetes items in 2015/16, an increase of 21 million items. Compared to 2022/23, the number of diabetes items prescribed increased by 7% from 66 million items.  

There were 3.6 million identified patients who were prescribed a diabetes item in England in 2023/24. This was a 7% increase from 3.4 million identified patients in 2022/23, and a 34% increase from 2.7 million in 2015/16. 

Antidiabetic drugs were the most prescribed drugs used in treating diabetes in England in 2023/24 with 53 million items at a cost of £960 million. The costs of antidiabetic drugs have increased by 127% since 2015/16 from £420 million. 

The most deprived areas in England have the highest number of identified patients that were prescribed drugs used in treating diabetes in 2023/24, with 340,000 more patients compared to the least deprived areas.  

The most common group to receive prescribing for drugs used in diabetes in 2023/24 was male patients aged 60 to 64 with 270,000 identified patients. 

To read the full statistics publication, go to: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescribing-diabetes-england/prescribing-diabetes-england-201516-202324