Denmark’s capital city Copenhagen has become the second city to be involved in Novo Nordisk’s global ‘Cities Changing Diabetes’ campaign.
The programme was launched in March this year, with Mexico City – the capital of Mexico – as its first focus. The initiative is designed to fight the rise of diabetes in the world cities.
Denmark-based Novo Nordisk will work with the City of Copenhagen and local partners include the University of Copenhagen, the Danish Diabetes Association and Steno Diabetes Center.
“Through this programme, the City of Copenhagen wants to take concrete action to increase health equality for its citizens,” said the city’s health mayor, Ninna Thomsen. Specifically, the city intends to strengthen diabetes prevention and improve the opportunities for people with diabetes to tackle their disease and lifestyle.
Novo Nordisk chief executive officer Lars Rebien Sørensen said: “On a global level we know that two in three of all people with diabetes live in cities. With ‘Cities Changing Diabetes’ we hope to get cities around the world to work together to find sustainable solutions to the urban diabetes challenge.
“We are very pleased that Copenhagen has decided to join. In Denmark, around 89% of people with diabetes live in cities, so we hope that the solutions we find in Copenhagen can also inspire other cities in Denmark.”
Diabetes is the only major chronic disease increasing in prevalence in Copenhagen. During the period 2007-2011, the number of new cases of diabetes per 1,000 inhabitants increased from 2.9 to 3.7 per year. According to the latest estimates, around 21,000 people are living with diabetes in Copenhagen – four in 100 Copenhageners.
More cities are set to join Mexico City and Copenhagen in the ‘Cities Changing Diabetes’, according to Novo. This will include locations in North America and Asia.