More than 1.2 million children under the age of 19 are living with type 1 diabetes around the world with an expected 184,100 new cases each year. Many of them live in low- and middle-income countries (IDF, 2021). Type1 diabetes typically has a high mortality rate, the annual cost of care exceeds a poor family’s income. In this backdrop, in October 2008, at the IDF meeting in London, key opinion leaders (KOLs) from sub-Saharan African countries requested the Chief Executive Officers of top pharma companies attending the meet, for ensuring access to essential diabetes medicines for children in the developing world, since childhood diabetes is having a high mortality rate in poor countries. This is further compounded by key barriers for care like poverty, lack of diagnosis, inadequate infrastructure and poor treatment.
Looking at the need for urgent action to improve the conditions Novo Nordisk launched the Changing Diabetes® in Children programme in 2009 to change the future of children with type 1 diabetes in developing countries. The programme is running in 24 countries in Africa and Asia, and have reached more than 41,000 children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes.
Addressing local challenges
The programme focuses on six areas that address local challenges:
Changing Diabetes® in Children aims to reach 100,000 vulnerable children and young people living with type 1 diabetes by 2030. To date, more than 2.9 million vials of insulin have been donated through the partnership. Each enrolled child also receives a glucometer and strips and other medical supplies to manage their blood glucose levels. The partnership is currently present in 24 countries.
In the programme's first 10 years, more than 171 million DKK (26 million USD) has been invested by the programme's partners.
In 2020, we set a new ambition to reach 100,000 children by 2030.
Programme milestones
2,1m vials of insulin (100 units) donated.
15,100+ healthcare professionals trained.
26,500+ children and adolescents enrolled.
208 diabetes clinics established.