PRINCETON, N.J., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, announced today that new tools to help people with diabetes overcome the psychosocial barriers that contribute to poor diabetes self- management are now available on its newly updated Web site, ChangingDiabetes- us.com. These resources were developed in response to findings from the DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) Study, a 5,426-patient global survey commissioned by Novo Nordisk, and are designed to individualize and help optimize patient care.
The new tools may be useful for people in every stage of diabetes. Highlights of the new content now available on ChangingDiabetes-us.com include:
* Guide Me - A feature that allows people with diabetes to customize the site content based on their diagnosis and specific situation vis-a-vis their disease * Diabetes Care Plan - An interactive tool that helps users track, manage and set goals for their short- and long-term diabetes care * My Priorities - A feature that helps people develop personal diabetes care goals and a psychosocial profile
“Helping people with diabetes identify and address barriers to self-care and prioritize the lifestyle changes necessary to successfully manage diabetes is key for reducing the risk for diabetes-related complications,” said Robert E. Rakel, MD, professor, department of family and community medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and a member of the Novo Nordisk US DAWN Primary Care advisory board. “These new tools may help people with diabetes collaborate more effectively with their diabetes-care team to develop a treatment program tailored to their individual needs.”
ChangingDiabetes-us.com: A Robust Educational Resource
Visitors to the newly enhanced site can utilize the interactive diabetes care plan to help identify personal barriers to diabetes care and help alleviate fears about advancing to insulin therapy.
By registering at the ChangingDiabetes-us.com Web site, diabetes users can immediately access critical information about diabetes, utilize the online tools, and receive regular e-mail communications on timely diabetes-related topics.
“The DAWN study has given us valuable insights into how people cope with diabetes at diagnosis and throughout the disease process, and Novo Nordisk is committed to using these insights to create helpful resources and information that reflect the real-life needs of people with diabetes,” said Susan Harrow Rago, MS, RD, Associate Director, Patient Services & Professional Relations, Novo Nordisk. “While this growing epidemic affects millions of Americans, we must not lose sight of the fact that each individual has unique challenges and needs.”
About DAWN
DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) is a global program developed by Novo Nordisk to help improve psychosocial support for people with diabetes. It is underpinned by the DAWN study, the largest attitudinal study of diabetes patients ever conducted, which involved 5,426 adults with diabetes (types 1 and 2), as well as 2,194 primary care physicians, 556 specialists (endocrinologists, diabetologists) and 1,122 nurses. Respondents were located in 13 countries: Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Spain, the UK and the United States. DAWN provided important and actionable insights into barriers to optimal treatment, including poor compliance, fears of initiating insulin therapy, inadequate doctor-patient communication and the psychological impact of diabetes.
About Diabetes
There are 20.8 million people in the United States, or seven percent of the population, who have diabetes. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is characterized by resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), and relative insulin deficiency. An estimated 5 to 10 percent of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes, in which the body fails to produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them.(i)
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 23,600 employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NVO’. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.
(i) American Diabetes Association web site. http://diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp. Accessed February 13, 2007.
Novo Nordisk
CONTACT: An Phan, +1-609-987-4893
