One in seven hospital beds occupied by a diabetes patient
10% of the total NHS budget is being put towards patients with diabetes, claims a recent report by charity Diabetes UK.
Most of the funding is said to be used towards complications such as amputations and strokes, with one in seven hospital beds housing a diabetes sufferer.
A staggering £10 billion a year is estimated being spent on people with diabetes, with warnings of costs continuing to rise over the next 20 years, accounting for 17% of the NHS budget.
Late diagnosis
Diabetes UK reports that currently diabetes patients are diagnosed too late, meaning they have to spend additional days in hospital, with 600,000 people unaware that they even have the condition. Only one in ten of those newly diagnosed are offered advice on how to manage their condition, but better education could save £2,200 per patient.
Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, told The Telegraph “The NHS is spending an eye-watering amount on diabetes but the money isn’t being used effectively, which is running up a huge bill for the future. This report shows how by dealing with problems early, such as by improved inpatient care and effective care planning, costs could be greatly reduced and more people would live longer and healthier lives.”
