Obesity could ‘bankrupt’ the NHS after spending on prescriptions for diabetes topped £1billion last year

SOARING obesity rates could “bankrupt” the NHS after spending on prescriptions for diabetes topped £1billion last year.

Docs doled out 53.4million orders for drugs, insulin and monitors as the number of Brits with weight-linked type 2 continued growing.

The £1.01billion diabetes bill for 2017/8 was up 71 per cent on the £591million a decade earlier.

But experts said the real cost was ten times higher as the NHS deals with complications from the disease, including strokes, blindness and amputations.

Robin Hewings, of Diabetes UK, said: “The real price we have to pay for diabetes is not medications but the devastating and expensive complications.

"It is estimated the total NHS cost is over £10billion a year.”

Studies show type 2 can be reversed with a healthy lifestyle, but 26 per cent of Brits are now obese compared with 15 per cent 25 years ago.

The National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry said: “It’s extremely worrying the NHS is spending such vast sums on a ­condition that is largely preventable.

"Until the Government gets serious about tackling obesity, these costs will climb and it could very well bankrupt the NHS.”

• GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk