Low cost drug to be made available to those with diabetes

Researchers believe a new low cost drug could improve the lives of people with diabetes and slash NHS costs by over £70 million.

The drug, which is made by Sanofi, costs just £1.90 a day and helps to control blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces the chances of heart attack, kidney failure and even amputations.

Professor Tony Barnett, a diabetes expert, said that trials of the drug have been great success and it appears that it will benefit between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of patients.

It is also believed that it will help people lose weight when it becomes available on prescription.

Dr Richard Brice, a diabetes expert and a Kent GP, said: "In today’s cash-strapped NHS, this has got to be an advantage.

"It is encouraging that effective and innovative Type 2 diabetes treatments are being made available.”

News of the drug has been welcomed by the charity Diabetes UK.

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