Warning for diabetics amid UK shortage of important medication - what you can do

29 September 2023 , 11:30

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Diabetics have been warned over a shortage in medication (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

People with diabetes have been hit with a five-month shortage of a vital medication.

The Tresiba FlexTouch U100 insulin pen, which is manufactured by global pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, is currently unavailable in the UK amid a disruption in supply. Tresiba is used by Type 1 and some Type 2 diabetics as a once-a-day background insulin dose to help manage their blood sugar levels in between meals, and is usually combined with a shorter-acting medication.

While the manufacturer has said that glass cartridges containing the insulin will still be available, people who are prescribed it in the disposable, pre-filled FlexTouch pen have been told they may need to switch to another method of administering the medication, or take a different insulin entirely.

The Tresiba FlexTouch insulin pen will be unavailable until January due to a plastic shortage

This will require a change in your prescription, and diabetics who take the insulin in this type of pen have been told to get in touch with their pharmacist and healthcare team if they haven't heard from them already. In a statement back in June, Novo Nordisk revealed that the shortage - which is expected to last from August 2023 until January 2024 - is being caused by supply issues in plastic, which are used to manufacture the pens. They added that it is not due to any safety or quality-related concerns for the Tresiba FlexTouch.

Diabetes UK, a charity which supports people with the condition, has said that local healthcare teams are likely to provide patients with the option of continuing to use this insulin in cartridge form, though this will require re-useable NovoPen that takes the cartridges. A prescription for the NovoPen device can be obtained from your healthcare team, who should also show you how to use it. Alternatively, you may be asked to switch to a different medication.

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Jackie Higgins, Senior Clinical Advisor at Diabetes UK, commented: "We ask that healthcare professionals take into account individual’s circumstances and their needs. This should include a discussion to ensure people can continue to manage their treatment and should include a prescription for any new device they need."

A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said: "Novo Nordisk can confirm that supply of Tresiba (insulin degludec) U-100 in FlexTouch pens will be in shortage throughout 2023 for people living with diabetes in the UK. Other presentations of Tresiba U-100 are unaffected by this shortage and remain available in the UK.

"We have seen high levels of demand for our devices across the board, following the pandemic. The same devices are used to deliver many of our medicines. This means that a sharp increase in the demand for one medicine can have a knock-on impact for the availability of the devices for others. Our factories are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week and by the end of 2023 we will have dedicated more than $5bn to open new production lines and facilities. Despite these investments, the ongoing pressure on our sites has led to a shortage in FlexTouch pens. The shortage is not a consequence of any safety or quality related concern with Tresiba U-100 in FlexTouch pens.

"Novo Nordisk has been working to improve the treatment of diabetes for over 100 years and remains focused on continuing to support patients and healthcare professionals. We are acutely aware of the uncertainty and concern this news will cause the diabetes community. We are speaking with health authorities to keep healthcare professionals informed and involved as we continue to address these challenges and meet the high demand for our medicines." The spokesperson added that Tresiba is also available in 200 units in U200 FlexTouch pens, which are not affected by the shortage

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas