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Overview: Novo Nordisk U.S. Diabetes Barometer
The Diabetes Epidemic in the U.S.
How can America tackle its diabetes epidemic? Right now, the CDC estimates there are nearly 26 million people with diabetes, and an additional 79 million with prediabetes, putting them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.1
Measuring Progress in the Fight Against Diabetes
For Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company committed to Changing Diabetes®, finding solutions begins with applying a mindset of “measure, share, and improve.” Globally, Novo Nordisk has developed the Diabetes Barometer as a framework for measuring progress in the fight against diabetes. What types of things are measured?
- Public awareness of diabetes as a serious disease, and awareness of risk factors
- Economic impact of diabetes
- Appropriate screening to aid in early detection
- Access to health care for people with diabetes and prediabetes
- Clinical markers of diabetes treatment and quality
We encourage sharing these measurements as an important means to improve outcomes for people with diabetes and prediabetes, so that key stakeholders have a clear picture of the current quality of diabetes care and can learn about effective interventions to combat the diabetes epidemic.
We help stimulate dialogue and build a case for the importance of screening to identify people with undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes; early intervention; and quality care for improved patient outcomes — all while working to raise diabetes higher on the U.S. national agenda.
Using Diabetes Data to Shape Public Policy
In the United States, Novo Nordisk has conducted original research that has resulted in new data on the societal, economic, and clinical impact of diabetes. We also successfully helped educate members of the U.S. Congress of the need for a National Diabetes Report Card, prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This Report Card – conceived of by Novo Nordisk and now required by healthcare reform legislation – will, every 2 years, provide an update of vital diabetes statistics at the federal and state levels. The first of these Report Cards was issued in June 2012.
Novo Nordisk uses such data to help shape public policy:
- Raising political awareness of diabetes
- Promoting national investment in diabetes care to prevent complications of diabetes and improve quality of life for patients
- Placing screening for diabetes higher on the national healthcare agenda
- Advocating for community-based diabetes prevention programs
- Inspiring others to adopt and follow best practice examples
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