Changing diabetes

Novo Nordisk is committed to changing diabetes. The figures speak for themselves. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the number of people with diabetes will grow from 171 million today – to 333 million by 2025. No doubt that there is a need to change the way diabetes is headed.

Diabetes statistics will not be changed through science alone. A pill will not change the societal issues that contribute to this pandemic. Changes are needed in science and research, in human and outreach efforts, in education, and in government and public policy worldwide.

For Novo Nordisk, changing diabetes is about showing leadership, about taking a holistic approach to the way it does business, and about concrete actions that will foster change and eventually defeat diabetes.

Novo Nordisk invests millions in research every year. By staying at the forefront of new developments in diabetes treatment, the company can offer a wide range of therapies and delivery systems that make life better for millions of people. The partnership with the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) enables research and clinical trials that accelerate the search for new treatments. But part of the company’s research focus also lies with organisations such as the world-renowned Hagedorn Research Institute, an independent arm of Novo Nordisk, where the latest advances in stem cell research are being realised.

Read more about OCDEM. 

Novo Nordisk insulin therapies and delivery systems make life better for millions of people around the world. But people with diabetes need more than medicine and needles. They need the guidance and support to take control of their own care. That is why Novo Nordisk pioneered DAWN, an initiative to promote the treatment of psychosocial issues and empower people with diabetes in the management of their own care. The company also sponsors Nurse Dialogue events worldwide, where tools, therapies and education are shared in open forums. Addressing the needs of the person behind the disease, combined with proper medicines, support and education, are the cornerstones of effective diabetes treatment.

Read more about DAWN. 

Recognising that Novo Nordisk cannot change diabetes alone, the company engages in different partnerships. It was a founding member of the Oxford Health Alliance  to raise awareness and promote healthcare and prevention of diabetes around the world. The company also launched the World Diabetes Foundation to help provide essential care and treatment for people with diabetes in developing countries.

Read more about the World Diabetes Foundation. 

In today’s world, it is not enough for a company to claim it has a set of values. It must truly live by them. Novo Nordisk took the initiative many years ago to live by a Triple Botton Line approach, where decisions and actions are based on their impact on society and the environment as much as on its own growth and profitability. Not because it had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

Today, every Novo Nordisk employee – from the laboratory to the manufacturing line – takes that responsibility to heart. In addition to using these values as a guide in their day-to-day work, they volunteer for diabetes-related initiatives and activities in communities worldwide through the TakeAction! programme.

Diabetes is quickly becoming part of the future for more and more young people around the world. That is why it is so important to act today – diabetes can be prevented in some cases. Where it cannot, it can be managed so that young people can still enjoy full, productive lives. That is why Novo Nordisk has created a special Youth Panel to advise us on how to communicate health awareness messages to children and young people. We have also developed Young Voices, a collection of real-life stories that make young people aware of ways to prevent type 2 diabetes and offer support in coping with the disease.

This page has been assessed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assessment of Novo Nordisk’s statement that it reports ‘in accordance’ with GRI. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the nature of assurance offered.