Number of insulin takes triples in two decades

The number of people taking daily insulin injections in the UK tripled between 1991 and 2010, according to new research.

Data acquired from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) show that insulin prescriptions rose from 136,800 to 421,300 in 19 years.

During the same period, the number of people with diabetes increased from 1.4 million to 2.8 million.

Researchers from Cardiff and Bristol universities, which published the study, said the increase in insulin use largely comes from a significant rise in the number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Indeed, there is currently 4.34 people with the condition per 1,000 compared to just 0.67 in 1991.

Professor Craig Currie, the study's lead author and professor of applied pharmaco-epidemiology at Cardiff Univeristy, said the findings are very "worrying".

"The increase in the number of people with type 2 diabetes using insulin is a wake-up call for all - not only in terms of lifestyle choices and how we treat people with type 2 diabetes," he added.

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