One World Trade Center to Glow Blue in Honor of World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2015

NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, November 14, 2015, the spire of One World Trade Center will be lit in blue, the official color of diabetes, to raise awareness of the disease.

The lighting results from the collective efforts of The American Diabetes Association^®, JDRF, The New York Stem Cell Foundation and Novo Nordisk, Inc. in collaboration with the Consulate General of Denmark in New York. The organizations are united in the battle against diabetes though prevention, detection, treatment and research.

Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes and at least another 86 million have prediabetes. Without intervention, as many as 30 percent of those with prediabetes will likely develop type 2 diabetes within five years^[1].  If current trends continue, by the year 2050, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as one in three Americans will have diabetes^[2].

Blue became the official color of diabetes in 2006 when the International Diabetes Federation developed the blue circle icon to serve as the global symbol for diabetes. The organization selected blue to reflect the color of the sky and of the United Nations' flag.^[3]

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested nearly $2 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers in more than 100 locations throughout the United States and our six international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF.

About The New York Stem Cell Foundation
The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) is an independent organization founded in 2005 to accelerate cures and better treatments for patients through stem cell research. NYSCF employs over 45 researchers at the NYSCF Research Institute, located in New York, and is an acknowledged world leader in stem cell research and in developing pioneering stem cell technologies, including the NYSCF Global Stem Cell Array™. Additionally, NYSCF supports another 75 researchers at other leading institutions worldwide through its Innovator Programs, including the NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellowships and the NYSCF – Robertson Investigator Awards. NYSCF focuses on translational research in a model designed to overcome the barriers that slow discovery and replaces silos with collaboration. For more information, visit www.nyscf.org

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 defeat other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, 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 or follow our news in the US on Twitter: @novonordiskus.

^[1] http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/
^[2] http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r101022.html
^[3] https://www.idf.org/bluecircle

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SOURCE Novo Nordisk, Inc.

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