Novo Nordisk Marks Changing Diabetes Day with Massachusetts State House Visit to Drive Awareness for Better Access to Care
Plainsboro, N.J. (PRWEB) November 13, 2015 -- Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, today announced a return to the Massachusetts State House for Changing Diabetes Day on November 17 as part of a global initiative to raise awareness and help people better manage their diabetes. Together with policymakers, community organizations, and diabetes advocacy groups, and in conjunction with World Diabetes Day, Novo Nordisk will host an educational event focused on how to better access diabetes care and improve diabetes education to help minimize health care costs across the state of Massachusetts.
Diabetes costs Massachusetts an estimated $8.1 billion each year.1 Diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate across the United States – in Massachusetts alone, nearly 600,000 people have diabetes, almost 1.8 million people have prediabetes, and every year an estimated 25,000 people are newly diagnosed.1
“Early detection, provision of patient-support resources, and efforts to reduce the incidence of diabetes must remain high priorities,” said Joe Miller, Novo Nordisk New England. “Novo Nordisk is dedicated to putting patients’ needs first. We’re proud to join health care leaders in our state to help drive health care reform in the Commonwealth in support of these goals.”
Tim Garvin, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts, will serve as the event’s master of ceremonies, and Sheila Newth, Novo Nordisk, will deliver remarks on the need for a healthier environment where advocacy groups and the healthcare systems unite to help patients improve their access to care and impact their quality of life. State Representatives Dan Cullinane and Gloria Fox, as well as Senators Jim Welch and Tom McGee, will attend to provide a State of the Union address on the current challenges those living with diabetes and their families face in Massachusetts and their commitment to reform.
“We have seen in the past that patient support resources can positively influence outcomes-based care,” said Chris Boynton, Executive Director of American Diabetes Association. “We applaud Novo Nordisk for its leadership role in bringing legislative, patient advocacy and health care organizations together to push for improvements in the lives of diabetes patients.”
Senator Jim Welch commented, “The goal of Changing Diabetes Day is to develop a strategy for the establishment of a ‘medical neighborhood,’ encompassing an integrated community of stakeholders committed to improving access to diabetes care. The participation from each party joining together is critical to enforce long-term impact on the burden of diabetes.”
Additional Changing Diabetes Day co-sponsors include: American Diabetes Association, Massachusetts Association of Diabetes Educators, Massachusetts Public Health Association, Massachusetts Health Council, New England Chapter of JDRF, T1D Exchange, United Way of Central Massachusetts, YMCAs of Massachusetts, College Diabetes Network, and the New England Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, the Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge will feature a blue glow to help raise diabetes awareness and show support for those living with the disease in Massachusetts.
Register to attend Changing Diabetes Day http://bit.ly/ChangingDiabetesDay2015
For more information about managing diabetes, please visit https://www.Cornerstones4Care.com
About Diabetes
In the United States, more than 29 million people are affected by diabetes.2 Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases.2 Diabetes is emerging as one of the most serious health problems of our time; the number of Americans with diabetes has tripled over the past 30 years.3 Each year diabetes costs the U.S. an estimated $245 billion in health resources used and productivity lost.4
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people with other serious chronic conditions: hemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 40,300 people in 75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com or follow us on Twitter.
About Changing Diabetes
Changing Diabetes® is Novo Nordisk’s response to the global diabetes challenge. Together with our global partners, we are working to raise awareness, improve access to care and address psychosocial aspects of diabetes to improve people’s lives.
Changing Diabetes® is also about working at the frontiers of research and development to improve treatments and create more opportunities for people with diabetes. This includes advocating for better education and support, helping people better manage their diabetes and live life on their own terms.
References
1. Dall, Timothy M., et al. The economic burden of elevated blood glucose levels in 2012. Diabetes Care. 2014; 37: 3177. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/12/3172.full.pdf+html. Accessed November 10, 2015.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes statistics report, 2014. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/national-diabetes-report-web.pdf. Accessed November 10, 2015.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Number (in Millions) of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults with diagnosed diabetes, United States, 1980–2011. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/figadults.htm. Accessed November 10, 2015.
4. American Diabetes Association. The cost of diabetes. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy/news-events/cost-of-diabetes.html.
Accessed November 10, 2015.
Sonya Sharif, Marina Maher Communications, +1 212-485-6287, [email protected]
Share this article