To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on (a) NHS and (b) social care for people with diabetes in 2009; and how much was spent on (i) prescription medicines, (ii) glucose testing, (iii) treatment in primary care, (iv) hospitalisation, (v) ambulance services, (vi) treating complications and (vii) other costs in respect of diabetes care.

Diabetes is a life-long, complex condition that can affect every part of the body, which means that it is difficult to calculate its exact cost to the national health service. However programme budget returns estimates that for the year 2008-9, expenditure by the NHS on diabetes was £1.26 billion. For the calendar year 2009, the net ingredient cost of prescribing medicines for diabetes was £488.8 million and the cost for glucose testing was £144.5 million.

We are unable to provide figures for social care costs, treatment in primary care, the cost for hospitalisation, treating complications and other costs in respect of diabetes care or ambulance services for people with diabetes.