A study cited by the medical journal BMJ Open has advised those in GP jobs to stop prescribing synthetic insulin for their type-two diabetes patients and instead, use human insulin.

According to Pulsetoday.co.uk, researchers found that more commonly than not, doctors are using synthetic insulin to treat this type of patient.

Despite medical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stipulating its human counterpart is more effective, GPs have been lured in by "successful marketing campaigns", the academics claimed.

Not only would this benefit patients - as human insulin proves far more beneficial - but a switch could save the NHS a substantial amount of money. In fact according to Thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com, prescribing human insulin could be more cost-effective to the tune of £625 million.

Although the author of the study, Professor Craig Currie, did admit there are certain advantages to using synthetic insulin, he said the benefits of human insulin far outweigh these. What's more, he said "most commentators" would agree with him.

One such medical professional who does agree is Dr Brian Karet, a diabetes specialist, who said: "I think it is essential that we do this. It will certainly save a significant amount.

"Commissioning groups are already considering costs and benefits and this is a very obvious one."