Changing the course of diabetes
Diabetes is one of the four chronic diseases which accounts for 50% of global mortality. If left unhindered, the number of people with diabetes will rise from 246 million today to 380 million in 2025 on a worldwide scale. Even more alarming, the growing rate of obesity causes children and young people to develop type 2 diabetes – a disease formerly seen only in adults.

It is clear that something has to be done, and Novo Nordisk has made a commitment to defeat diabetes. The company has been in the diabetes business for more than 80 years and dedicates more resources to diabetes research than any other company in the world. That is part of the reason why it likes to think it understands diabetes better than anyone else.

More than selling products
Novo Nordisk’s ambition is to be a catalyst for change and provide solutions where it really matters: in the clinic; in the homes of the people with diabetes and at the societal level. There is an urgent need for change in the way diabetes is managed. But it requires a long-term focus on prevention and the wellness of the individual. The company is not satisfied with merely developing and marketing the best insulins and devices as long as people with diabetes are not cared for properly and preventive measures against disabling complications are not taken.

Aiming for a cure
The ultimate goal is to find a cure. When asking people with diabetes what they really expect from Novo Nordisk, they answer that they hope to get rid of their disease and to prevent their relatives and friends from getting it. Therefore, preventive measures - and ultimately a cure - are important factors in good diabetes care.

Working in partnerships
Together with individuals, organisations, universities and health authorities, ministries and governments around the world, Novo Nordisk engages in big and small activities in the hope that this will improve the lives of people with diabetes and, one day, lead to the formulation of the cure they wish for. For instance, Novo Nordisk is the sponsor of DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs), a landmark study about the psychosocial aspects of diabetes. This study has prompted a series of educational activities around the world in partnership with other organisations. The company has also, together with Oxford University, founded Oxford Vision 2020. This movement is dedicated to the cause of preventing the pandemic growth of chronic diseases.

Triple Bottom Line – a way of doing business
Novo Nordisk is committed to pursuing its business goals as a profitable enterprise in a way that is socially and environmentally responsible. Its ’Triple Bottom Line’ philosophy ensures that its social, ethical and environmental concerns balance with its financial performance.