We welcome long-awaited draft guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that could revolutionise the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
These draft guidelines propose expanding access to newer diabetes medicines called SGLT2 inhibitors (these include the drugs canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin) from being second-choice treatments to first-choice treatments.
Additionally, more people would benefit earlier from treatment with GLP-1 agonists, such as liraglutide or semaglutide.
Type 2 diabetes is complex and these draft guidelines recommend that treatment is more individualised based on people’s clinical needs and their specific circumstances.
The updated type 2 diabetes guidelines are now out for consultation until early October and we will be responding to the consultation.
Once the final guidelines are published it is important that they are adopted in the NHS. We will be working with the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to ensure that they are implemented widely so that everyone with type 2 diabetes can benefit from the best treatment for them.
Douglas Twenefour, Head of Clinical at Diabetes UK, said:
“This long-awaited announcement propels type 2 diabetes treatment into the 21st century. Boosting access to newer treatments will be transformative for people with type 2 diabetes, while ensuring the UK keeps pace with the global momentum in treating the condition.
“The majority of people with type 2 diabetes are not currently taking the most effective medication for them, putting them at risk of devastating diabetes-related complications. Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, and tailoring treatment based on individual risk could protect thousands against heart attacks and kidney disease.
“These guidelines could go a long way to easing the burden of living with this relentless condition, as well as helping to address inequities in type 2 diabetes treatments and outcomes.”
