Diabetes prescribing comparators show prescribing patterns for patients treated with antidiabetic drugs.
Clinicians developed them to support better prescribing. They let you see variation, and identify areas of interest for further investigation and patient review. They do not show good or bad prescribing. The comparators are:
- Blood glucose testing strips
- Non-insulin blood lowering therapy
- Biosimilar insulin
- NPH insulin
- Ketone testing strips
Blood glucose testing strips
This metric shows blood glucose testing strip use for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Current guidance is that type 2 diabetes patients who are treated with only metformin do not need to test BMs regularly.
Non-insulin blood lowering therapy
This metric shows the use and prescribing patterns of each class of drug.
NPH insulin
This metric shows the proportion of NPH insulin prescribed.
In type 2 diabetes, the preferred basal insulin recommended by NICE is human NPH (neutral protamine Hagedorn) insulin.
Ketone testing strips
This metric shows the use of ketone testing strips. It highlights patients who are potentially overusing or underusing them.
The dashboard has an indicator on the ‘English Index of Multiple Deprivation’ (IMD). You can view more information on IMD.
Diabetes prescribing comparators specification (PDF: 407KB)
If you're registered, you can access the diabetes dashboard via ePACT2.