Cost-effectiveness of flexible intensive insulin management to enable dietary freedom in people with Type 1 diabetes in the UK

Aims To determine the cost-effectiveness of a structured treatment and teaching programme (STTP) combining dietary freedom with insulin adjustment for Type 1 diabetes. Methods Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis based on effectiveness data from three RCTs in Germany, Austria, and Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) in the UK, to model the long-term microvascular complications of Type 1 diabetes. Results The STTP approach yields effectiveness gains at a lower cost compared with current standard practice for treatment of Type 1 diabetes. STTPs are likely to save 0.05 life years, yield 0.12 EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) and 0.09 visual analogue scale (VAS) incremental quality-adjusted life years, and save approximately pound2200 per Patient treated discounted over 10 years. Conclusions Introducing STTPs as standard treatment for people with Type 1 diabetes in the UK may help to achieve the primary goal of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Diabetes by enabling individuals to manage their own lifestyle and condition. In doing so it could save valuable resources for the NHS and yield important morbidity and mortality gains.