NHS to Offer Weight-Loss Drugs to More Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Millions of people with type 2 diabetes in the UK could soon be offered earlier access to newer treatments like GLP-1 receptor agonist jabs (such as Ozempic and Mounjaro) and SGLT-2 inhibitor tablets, as part of what the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) calls “the biggest shake-up” in diabetes care in a decade. The draft guidance moves away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead recommends personalising treatment to better prevent serious medical problems such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.
These changes could make a big difference, especially for patients with heart disease, obesity, or early-onset diabetes, and aim to reduce health inequalities by ensuring the right drugs reach the people who need them most. “This represents a significant evolution in how we approach type 2 diabetes treatment,” said Prof Jonathan Benger of NICE. “We’re moving beyond simply managing blood sugar to taking a holistic view of a person’s health.”
The move could save up to 22,000 lives if 90% of eligible patients are prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitor medications, but access across the UK is still uneven. “These guidelines could go a long way to easing the burden of living with this relentless condition,” said Diabetes UK’s Douglas Twenefour. Public consultation on the draft guidance is open until 2nd October, with final recommendations expected afterward.
