Press Release

IDDT LAUNCH CONERENCE REPORT

13 October 2007

At their annual conference today, The Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) launched their report “30 years of synthetic insulin – are people with diabetes getting the best deal?” The Report researches the 30-year history of synthetic insulins and highlights their increasing cost to the heath service today. It also highlights patients’ concerns over the lack of choice, information and support from their clinicians and questions the safety of modern day insulins.

Jenny Hirst, Chair of IDDT commented, “2007 is the 30th Anniversary of synthetic insulins but we see no reason to celebrate. The NHS is paying increasingly extortionate amounts for these insulins and yet there is no evidence to suggest that these modern day insulins are any more effective than human or animal insulins. In fact, in some cases there is research that shows that they may even have carcinogenic properties.”

IDDT, which was set up in 1994 to champion the interests of patients with insulin dependent diabetes, has been studying the research on the effect of these synthetic insulins and is concerned that over 30,000 people are experiencing serious adverse effects when using then. The IDDT Helpline is inundated with worried patients and family carers who just want answers to why their symptoms are so serious, and why they are unable to manage their diabetes effectively.

A recent report¹ by Professor Edwin Gale et al, also questions whether people with diabetes are getting the best deal. “When the choice is between treating 150-200 patients with long-acting analogues instead of ‘human’ insulin or employing a full-time nurse specialist educator at the same cost – which would be best for patient care?”
The IDDT knows that children with diabetes are receiving suboptimal care, and primary care trusts (PCTs) are unable to fund educational programmes, enough diabetes specialist nurses, or provide essential self testing strips for diabetic patients, so it is shocking that PCT budgets are being consumed by ever-increasing insulin costs that provide little benefit to patents.

Iain Chalmers, (Co-ordinator, James Lind Initiative) added, “no substantial advantages of human over animal insulin have ever been shown, or of analogue insulin over human insulin. Sp why has the NHS acquiesced inpayingh insulin manufacturers milliond of pounds more than they need to, to buy the newer insulins? As someone who believes that evidence should inform practice (and as a taxpayer), it seems to me that NICE should show these wasted NHS resources can be used to help people with diabetes more effectively.”

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¹ Nice Insulins, pity about the evidence. Diabetologiia (2007) 50;1783-1790. Holleman F, Gale Eem.

A recent Early Day Motion on the issue² gathered over 100 signatories of cross-party support and many more MPs offered their support by writing to Ministers.

Finally, Jenny Hirst commented, “we would like to see a complete overhaul of the insulin market and we are calling for the NICE to review all the insulins in the marketplace today in order to research their clinical and cost effectiveness.