Fat jabs could be offered to people with type 2 diabetes much sooner in the biggest shake up in treatment for a decade.

As part of several recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), patients would receive weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic in the early stages of care, rather than reserving them for the later stages.

The new guidance also recommends ditching the current one-size-fits-all approach of starting everyone on the same medication in favour of more personalised care that aims to prevent complications like heart failure and heart attacks.

This includes making newer type 2 diabetes drugs, known as SGLT-2 inhibitors, a first-line treatment option in a move that could eventually help save tens of thousands of lives.

SGLT-2 inhibitors are once-a-day tablets that reduce blood sugar levels by helping the kidneys remove glucose, which is passed from the body through urine.

However, analysis by NICE found these drugs are under-prescribed.

The guidelines recommend patients who cannot tolerate metformin – the first-choice type 2 diabetes medication – should start with an SGLT-2 inhibitor on its own.

The decision comes after evidence suggested these drugs protect the heart and kidneys as well as controlling blood sugar, NICE said.

Ozempic is licensed in the UK to treat type 2 diabetes, while its other brand Wegovy is also used by the NHS to help obese people lose weight

Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE, said the new guidance emphasises a more ‘holistic’ approach to treating type 2 diabetes

Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, said the move will bring diabetes treatment into the ’21st century’

It is estimated the change could save almost 22,000 lives once uptake reaches 90 per cent of patients.

Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at NICE, said: ‘This guidance means more people will be offered medicines where it is right to do so to reduce their future risk of ill health.

‘This represents a significant evolution in how we approach type 2 diabetes treatment.

‘We’re moving beyond simply managing blood sugar to taking a holistic view of a person’s health, particularly their cardiovascular and kidney health.

‘The evidence shows that certain medicines can provide important cardiovascular benefits, and by recommending them as part of initial treatment, we could help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other serious complications before they occur.

‘This is particularly important given that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in people with type 2 diabetes.’

More tailored care for patients would see semaglutide offered much sooner. Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, is licensed in the UK to treat type 2 diabetes, while its other brand Wegovy is also used by the NHS to help obese people lose weight.

Around 4.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, with nine in ten of those having type 2.

However, it is estimated that a further 1.3 million people may have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

NICE analysed the records of 590,000 people and found SGLT-2 inhibitors are under-prescribed, particularly to women, older people, and black patients.

Professor Benger added: ‘The evidence from our analysis is clear. There are prescribing gaps that need to be addressed.

‘The guideline update published today will help to increase equitable uptake of SGLT-2 inhibitors, which we know can prevent serious health complications.’

Dr Waqaar Shah, chairman of the guideline committee, added: ‘We know that SGLT-2 inhibitors are currently under-prescribed, and our health economics analysis shows that people living in the most deprived areas would particularly benefit from universal access to these treatments.

‘These recommendations could help reduce health inequalities while providing better outcomes for everyone.’

Elsewhere, the draft guidance suggests different treatments for diabetes patients with certain characteristics or health conditions.

These include adults with cardiovascular disease, who should be offered a triple therapy including weight-loss jabs.

Meanwhile, adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before 40 should be offered dual therapy before fat jabs are considered, while patients with chronic kidney disease should have tailored recommendations based on their kidney function.

A public consultation on the new NICE guidelines is open until October 2.

Douglas Twenefour, head of clinical at Diabetes UK, said: ‘This long-awaited announcement propels type 2 diabetes treatment into the 21st century.

‘Boosting access to newer treatments will be transformative for people with type 2 diabetes, while ensuring the UK keeps pace with the global momentum in treating the condition.

‘The majority of people with type 2 diabetes are not currently taking the most effective medication for them, putting them at risk of devastating diabetes-related complications.

‘Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, and tailoring treatment based on individual risk could protect thousands against heart attacks and kidney disease.

‘These guidelines could go a long way to easing the burden of living with this relentless condition, as well as helping to address inequities in type 2 diabetes treatments and outcomes.’