Community involvement is embedded in Novo Nordisk's history and values. It involves a respectful weighing of business interest against those of stakeholders and society, a balancing of short-term and long-term interest. Novo Nordisk's overall approach to community engagement is primarily focused on the company's main area of expertise, namely diabetes. Whether it is about supporting long-term sustainable health with their communities, Novo Nordisk is at the forefront of providing treatment and care for people with diabetes.
Novo Nordisk has been involved in changing diabetes care in Canada since 1984. Today, with more than 300 employees working across the country, our vision is to defeat diabetes by finding better methods of diabetes prevention, detection and treatment. The need has never been more clear.
More than 11 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Every hour of every day, 20 people are diagnosed with diabetes. The burden of the disease, both to the individual and the healthcare system, is growing. By 2020, 10% of Canadians will be living with diabetes, and the burden of the disease will cost the healthcare system close to $17 billion annually.
Through our Changing Diabetes® ambition, Novo Nordisk is making a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes in Canada. Through partnerships with healthcare providers and not-for-profit organizations, we help drive research, advocacy and awareness initiatives to improve access to diabetes education, care and treatment for all Canadians impacted by the disease.