United Nations (UN) Resolution on diabetes
World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2007 was the first ever United Nations-observed World Diabetes Day, thanks to the adoption in December 2006 of the United Nations (UN) Resolution on diabetes. Novo Nordisk played an active role in supporting the UN Resolution and in celebrating the first UN-observed World Diabetes Day.
An international observance is a day set aside to observe an issue of international interest or concern. Until last year, the UN has only three days dedicated to health: tuberculosis, mental health and HIV/AIDS. Because observances recognised by the UN promote awareness and mobilise for action, a World Diabetes Day recognised by the UN helps focus world attention on the growing diabetes pandemic.
The UN Resolution signifies that all nations recognise the severity of the worldwide diabetes pandemic and are committed to urgently dealing with it. It encourages Member States to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their healthcare systems.
One of the ways in which Novo Nordisk has been active in supporting the Unite for Diabetes campaign is through the Changing Diabetes Bus world tour to raise awareness of diabetes, but also through the sponsoring of the Diabetes Youth Charter, presented in September 2007.
Focus on children and youth
In addition, Novo Nordisk is supporting the IDF-led Unite for Diabetes campaign through a special focus on the needs of children and young people with diabetes, their families and social networks. This involves children who already have diabetes as well as those who are particularly at risk of developing diabetes in the future. In September 2007, at the congress of the European Association of the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Novo Nordisk and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) presented a global overview of the diabetes burden among children and adolescents. Called the Diabetes Youth Charter, this expert review into existing data and global trends within childhood diabetes highlighted that many children are in poor control of their diabetes. Early diagnosis, prevention and improved control can reverse the situation, the experts found. In particular, the Youth Charter highlighted the lack of knowledge of the number of children worldwide with diabetes and the diabetes-related deaths.
As a follow-up activity, Novo Nordisk together with the IDF and the International Society for Paediactric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) launched the DAWN Youth programme at the ISPAD Congress in September 2007. This programme will facilitate advocacy, research and action to improve the lives of young people with diabetes and their families. DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) is Novo Nordisk’s global study on the psychosocial barriers to diabetes care. And not least, through the Novo Nordisk Youth Panel, Novo Nordisk works to give youth a voice.
Continued active support
Novo Nordisk will continue to take an active leadership role in implementing the UN Resolution on diabetes by ensuring action and by encouraging the UN Member States to establish national policies on the treatment, prevention and care of diabetes.
In addition, the company’s is exploring practical ways of redefining healthcare around the needs of people with diabetes and establishing high-level groups of experts to facilitate new solutions for change and to drive better health outcomes for people with diabetes. Therefore, Novo Nordisk has organized the Global Changing Diabetes Leadership Forum in NYC in March 2007 and has published recently the first Changing Diabetes Barometer.
This page has been reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its assurance of Novo Nordisk’s non-financial reporting. Please refer to Audit and assurance for a full description of the conclusions and the nature of assurance offered.
