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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Insulin glargine vs Metformin hydrochloride

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Metformin hydrochloride was dispensed 12.7× as often as Insulin glargine in May 2026 — 2,247,052 items versus 176,932 in England.

176,932items

Insulin glargine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2,247,052items

Metformin hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Insulin glargine versus Metformin hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Insulin glargine   ·   ╌ Metformin hydrochloride

0 1.2m 2.4m Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Metformin hydroc… 176,932 Jan 2021: 130k Feb 2021: 123k Mar 2021: 136k Apr 2021: 133k May 2021: 128k Jun 2021: 139k Jul 2021: 139k Aug 2021: 132k Sep 2021: 139k Oct 2021: 133k Nov 2021: 138k Dec 2021: 149k Jan 2022: 136k Feb 2022: 127k Mar 2022: 145k Apr 2022: 136k May 2022: 142k Jun 2022: 139k Jul 2022: 139k Aug 2022: 144k Sep 2022: 142k Oct 2022: 140k Nov 2022: 143k Dec 2022: 148k Jan 2023: 144k Feb 2023: 131k Mar 2023: 150k Apr 2023: 136k May 2023: 145k Jun 2023: 148k Jul 2023: 147k Aug 2023: 150k Sep 2023: 150k Oct 2023: 152k Nov 2023: 155k Dec 2023: 158k Jan 2024: 158k Feb 2024: 152k Mar 2024: 154k Apr 2024: 162k May 2024: 167k Jun 2024: 156k Jul 2024: 170k Aug 2024: 164k Sep 2024: 159k Oct 2024: 169k Nov 2024: 163k Dec 2024: 170k Jan 2025: 171k Feb 2025: 153k Mar 2025: 163k Apr 2025: 165k May 2025: 173k Jun 2025: 168k Jul 2025: 178k Aug 2025: 163k Sep 2025: 172k Oct 2025: 178k Nov 2025: 166k Dec 2025: 186k Jan 2026: 178k Feb 2026: 165k Mar 2026: 182k Apr 2026: 179k May 2026: 177k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Insulin glargine versus Metformin hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Insulin glargine Metformin hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 176,932 2,247,052
Items, last 12 months 2,092,229 27,404,281
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £7,758,828 £4,969,944

See the full profile for Insulin glargine or Metformin hydrochloride.