Millions more Britons are gearing up to be offered weight loss jabs to assist with pre-existing health conditions on the NHS.
It will become the largest overhaul of diabetes treatment for more than 10 years, as more patients will be given Ozempic or Mounjaro to handle their condition.
NHS watchdog the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has backed the increased use of GLP-1 jabs on the health service for those with type 2 diabetes.
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Approximately five million Britons will be offered the jab
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Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a hormone which assists with blood sugar regulation, supporting those afflicted with type 2 diabetes.
The drug shot to fame after it was discovered that one of its side effects is suppressed appetite, which helps drive weight loss.
Now, top medics have lauded the advice as “propelling treatment into the 21st century", with the deputy chief executive and chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Benger explaining that the new treatment would result in more people being offered medicines “where it is right to do so”.
Around five million Britons will be offered the jab under the latest watchdog guidance. Prof Benger said: “This represents a significant evolution in how we approach type 2 diabetes treatment.
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“We’re moving beyond simply managing blood sugar to taking a holistic view of a person’s health, particularly their cardiovascular and kidney health.”
The wider use of the jab “could help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other serious complications before they occur”, he pointed out.
Currently, around 200,000 people are receiving the injection on the NHS, approximately a quarter of whom are taking the GLP-1 drug for weight loss.
The fresh guidance suggests that the drug should be doled out to individuals who have been diagnosed with heart disease, heart failure or early onset type 2 diabetes.
Those who have been diagnosed with diabetes and obesity will also have access to the injection if alternative medicine has not had the desired effect within the first three months of use.
Around 200,000 people are currently receiving the injection on the NHS
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Head of clinical at Diabetes UK Douglas Twenefour 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."
NICE added that the drug could defend heart and kidney health as well, possibly saving 22,000 lives, adding to the jab's extensive list of medical benefits.