Novo Nordisk Partners With Local Groups to Support Philadelphia Diabetes Education and Community Health Programs

PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This evening, Novo Nordisk awarded sponsorships totaling $85,000 to four Philadelphia-based community organizations to educate local communities and raise awareness of diabetes to reduce the risk for long-term diabetes related complications.  The sponsorships are part of the Novo Nordisk Community Care program, which aims to partner with local organizations to promote enduring, sustainable change at the local level for people living with diabetes.  Each of the sponsored groups, all embedded in diverse Philadelphia neighborhoods, have the power and opportunity to improve patients' lives and stem the tide of Philadelphia's diabetes epidemic.  

The groups that received program sponsorships include:

• American Diabetes Association, Southeastern Pennsylvania and South New Jersey Region: to host 12 diabetes awareness workshops in English and in Spanish in 2011-2012
• North Philadelphia Madrugadores Rotary Club: to educate and certify 30 Edison High School students as Diabetes Educators reaching the Latino community
• Medical Society of Eastern Philadelphia: to support their monthly radio program, Physicians-on-Air, which will highlight diabetes as the topic of interest, quarterly
• Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church: to support their "Living Fit with Diabetes" six-week seminar that will offer lectures, health screenings and hands on cooking and fitness classes

"I congratulate the groups sponsored by Novo Nordisk Community Care that are being honored tonight for developing diabetes education programs for Philadelphia residents that are sustainable and have real impact," said Congressman Chaka Fattah. "Only by working together we can reach at-risk populations to manage and control the scourge of diabetes in our community."

Novo Nordisk will work with the sponsored programs to address the growing diabetes crisis in Philadelphia.  According to a recent study by the Institute for Alternative Futures, in 2010, over 655,000 Philadelphia residents (11.1%) had diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes and 11.7% (77,000) of those had serious complications, such as visual impairment, renal failure, and leg amputation.  The annual cost to the residents of Philadelphia for diagnosed diabetes was $6 billion. Further, forecasts project that by 2025, more than 943,000 Philadelphia residents will have diabetes at a total cost of $9.1 billion. Statewide, nearly 15% of Pennsylvania residents are projected to have diabetes by 2025 at a cost of $18.4 billion.

"Novo Nordisk is proud to support these community programs because they reach diverse Philadelphia neighborhoods that will directly benefit from increased diabetes awareness and education," said Lori Moore, Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk. "Novo Nordisk brings innovative treatments and devices to the diabetes community, but as an industry leader, we also have the opportunity and responsibility to provide resources to local organizations whose deep understanding of their constituency's needs can make a significant impact on the way patients manage their disease.  We very much look forward to seeing the programs unfurl and impact the communities they serve."

In 2011, sponsorships also will be awarded to community groups in Minneapolis, Boston and Atlanta to inspire similar grassroots education programs. For more information about Novo Nordisk Community Care and to find local event listings and resources for people living with diabetes, go to NovoNordiskCommunityCare.com

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk