There are many reasons why chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity have been on the rise for decades. Some are due to risk factors that are not preventable, such as genetic factors and the simple fact that humans are living longer.

Doing nothing to stop this rise will only lead to more human suffering and more healthcare spending. Our customers are healthcare systems and the people using our treatments. If we do nothing to prevent chronic diseases, we are not living up to our values as a company, nor are we driving a sustainable business.

The main reasons for increased rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity often include a combination of increasing urbanisation, socioeconomic inequalities, less active lifestyles and poorer diets. These are areas where preventive actions can have a positive effect, by reducing socioeconomic inequalities and facilitating more active lifestyles and balanced diets. 

We want to bend the curve on the rise of type 2 diabetes and obesity. There is no doubt prevention is key.

Keep reading and see how we work with chronic disease prevention.


100 years after the discovery of insulin, we are looking ahead to the next 100 years of type 2 diabetes research. Together with the University of Toronto, we have established the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations . The network will unite experts in public health and chronic disease research to focus on uncovering new prevention tactics to halt the rise of type 2 diabetes.

This interdisciplinary effort will explore critical questions related to chronic diseases such as how transportation, mobilities, and the built environment are key enablers of health and well-being. The role of new technologies including virtual care, remote training and support, and wearable devices in diabetes care and obesity prevention will also be explored.

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As part of our efforts to find, pilot and scale solutions to prevent diabetes and obesity, we will invite communities, start-ups, businesses, NGOs and grassroot organisations, educational institutions, public agencies and more to submit proposals through a series of open innovation challenges.

The first challenge, the Healthy Food Challenge, will focus on preventing obesity through solutions that advance healthy and sustainable food environments among vulnerable people. 
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Our second challenge, the Prevention Start-up Accelerator, invited start-ups and scale-ups with predictive and/or preventative digital solutions to stop the rise of obesity. 
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Our third challenge, the Healthy Childhood Challenge, was a global call for ideas which support and promote healthier environments, launched by Novo Nordisk in collaboration with UNICEF. 
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Two out of three people living with type 2 diabetes reside in cities. The way urban areas are designed, built and run is changing the way we live and, in some cases, increasing our vulnerability to type 2 diabetes. 

We coined the term ‘urban diabetes’ as a way to focus on the risk factor inherent in cities, and launched a global public-private partnership called Cities Changing Diabetes.

In more than 40 cities around the world, we are drawing attention to type 2 diabetes as a crucial health issue in cities. We are working with more than 150 partners to improve research and inform policies to design interventions that deliver meaningful impact on the frontline of the disease.

To learn more about our fight against urban diabetes, go to Cities Changing Diabetes.

Globally, 40 million children under the age of five are overweight. This puts them at risk of developing early onset of type 2 diabetes, and is a strong predictor of adult obesity. 

These children may also face challenges in thriving and reaching their full potential. Being overweight can contribute to stigmatisation, poor socialisation and emotional difficulties, and in some cases reduced educational attainment.

Together with UNICEF, we are working on the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. Starting in Mexico and Colombia, but with a broader regional and global reach and impact, the partnership aims to ‘shift the narrative’ regarding prevention of overweight and obesity from a focus on individual responsibility to the need for addressing environments that promote obesity.

We believe every child should have the chance to grow well in a changing world and to fulfil their potential. 

Visit UNICEF's website to see what is being done to improve the state of the world's children.