14 November is World Diabetes Day, the global awareness day organised every year by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO). In many countries around the world, Novo Nordisk is involved in activities to celebrate and observe the day.

World Diabetes Day (WDD) was first introduced in 1991 in response to the concern over the exploding incidence of diabetes around the world. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of the Canadian surgeon Frederick Banting who, with his medical student Charles Best, first conceived the idea that led to the discovery of insulin in October 1921.

Time to reflect
According to the IDF, 14 November is a time for both celebration and reflection. An occasion to celebrate the advances in diabetes care, and to reflect on the work that still needs to be done to help people with diabetes.

World event
In more than 130 countries around the world, member associations of the IDF celebrate WDD. Common activities that the associations and other concerned groups have initiated include help-lines, radio shows, sports events, free blood-screening tests, public information meetings, poster and leaflet campaigns, diabetes workshops and exhibitions, press conferences and media coverage. Novo Nordisk has initiated numerous WDD activities. In Denmark, 11 public meetings are being held in cooperation with the Danish Diabetes Association. In several countries, including India, Japan and Canada, Novo Nordisk is involved in various WDD walkathons and runs. In Germany, a number of employees are participating in a WDD meeting in Berlin. In the United Kingdom, there is a children’s event…

Creating a tradition
In Novo Nordisk involvement in WDD is becoming a tradition. Anthony John Elphick of Novo Nordisk External Affairs says: “WDD is a moment in each year when we can work together with other world organisations on diabetes as a whole. We can take our place with them and do things that draw interest to diabetes and highlight actions that benefit people with diabetes as well as the social environment. That means we, not only as a company but also as individuals, should feel committed to doing something on this day. Even small things, such as discussing diabetes with our families and friends, helps”.

Professor Sir George Alberti, incoming President of International Diabetes Federation puts it this way: “From the IDF point of view I see a company like Novo Nordisk as a full partner in the diabetes team, and we need to pull together to make diabetes not just well known but also understood and well managed. Creating awareness of the importance of diabetes and encouraging interest in action is what WDD is about. By participating in and supporting this event your company can do much to enhance the impact of the day.
“I hope Novo Nordisk will continue and expand these activities and not keep them just for World Diabetes Day. This will show Novo Nordisk as being a socially concerned and responsible company.”

Read more on www.idf.org.