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Diabetes UK are reported in the BBC-online's Health section to be
opposing the NICE guidance on the use of glitazones in Type 2 Diabetes.
NICE advise that glitazones should be reserved until other treatments have
been tried, such as sulphonylureas and metformin.(1)
Diabetes UK's spokesperson said:
"Doctors and patients need to have access to the treatments that are
best for them. Today's ruling will deny that."
"Diabetes is costing the NHS millions of pounds a day, much of which
is spent on treating the long-term effects of the condition, many of which
could be prevented with early, effective treatment."
Diabetes UK has recently alluded to it's transparency and
accountability with regard to corporate sponsorship. (2) In 2002 they
received £750,000 from pharmaceutical companies.
I am unable to ascertain from their website whether any of these
funds are provided by the manufacturers of either glitazone currently on
the market. It would be helpful if Diabetes UK could have a list of
corporate sponsors on their website.
No declaration of interests is given in the BBC article.
Diabetes UK's response to NICE glitazone guidence
Diabetes UK are reported in the BBC-online's Health section to be
opposing the NICE guidance on the use of glitazones in Type 2 Diabetes.
NICE advise that glitazones should be reserved until other treatments have
been tried, such as sulphonylureas and metformin.(1)
Diabetes UK's spokesperson said:
"Doctors and patients need to have access to the treatments that are
best for them. Today's ruling will deny that."
"Diabetes is costing the NHS millions of pounds a day, much of which
is spent on treating the long-term effects of the condition, many of which
could be prevented with early, effective treatment."
Diabetes UK has recently alluded to it's transparency and
accountability with regard to corporate sponsorship. (2) In 2002 they
received £750,000 from pharmaceutical companies.
I am unable to ascertain from their website whether any of these
funds are provided by the manufacturers of either glitazone currently on
the market. It would be helpful if Diabetes UK could have a list of
corporate sponsors on their website.
No declaration of interests is given in the BBC article.
yours
Anthony Cox
(1) Diabetes drug 'rationing' claim. BBC on-line
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3186107.stm (accessed 27th August 2003)
(2) http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7410/344-b
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests