Young Voices Changing Diabetes

Novo Nordisk has a stated vision of defeating diabetes. Until we find a cure we will work hard at changing the course and the future of diabetes. In order to do so, we have to engage with the stakeholders of the future: today’s young people.

Today, children and young people with diabetes type 1 are not all in good control and they do not always receive the necessary support and care during their childhood and teenage years. They risk facing a lifetime of unnecessary suffering. Young Voices Changing diabetes to us means understanding the young people’s attitudes, wishes and needs for managing their diabetes better; getting into good control and live full lives with their chronic disease.

Mobilising youth and helping them engage in dialogue with key diabetes stakeholders can open up to a fresh outlook, new solutions and innovative ways to work with this issue of true global importance.

The Novo Nordisk Youth Panel
Novo Nordisk’s youth leadership focus provides a platform for young people to share their voices and be listened to by important stakeholders in diabetes: governments, key opinion leaders and decision makers, healthcare professionals, representatives from the public school systems, academia, the media and others. In this way, young people can inspire new strategies and communication to prevent type 2 diabetes and to improve the outcomes of diabetes care among children and adolescents.

The International Youth Panel which consists of 15 young people with diabetes from around the world was established in 2005 as part of Novo Nordisk’s efforts to give young people a voice within diabetes. The Youth Panel focuses on awareness building, empowerment, the importance of good control as a quality of life aspect, and is committed to forming and challenging the mindset of people with diabetes and those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, the Youth Panel came together to be Novo Nordisk’s partners for achieving the UN Resolution on diabetes which was passed end of December 2006.

As future stakeholders young people are integral to changing diabetes. We will only be able to prevent the looming global health disaster by increasing awareness about diabetes and its consequences, among young people in particular.