Are you familiar with the World Diabetes Foundation?

I was reminded today that some pharmaceutical companies do invest in global public health initiatives. Novo Nordisk established the World Diabetes Foundation in 2002 and this foundation has funded projects focusing on diabetes awareness, education, and capacity-building in the developing world. This foundation focuses on these areas:

• Awareness of diabetes
• Prevention of diabetes and its complications
• Education and training of patients and health care professionals
• Enhancement of detection, treatment and monitoring of diabetes

Here are some interesting facts about this foundation:

• The establishment of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) was announced by its founding father Novo Nordisk A/S on World Diabetes Day 2002.
  
• The World Diabetes Foundation has funded 208 projects to date, covering 87 countries.
  
• The Foundation is a independent and non-profit foundation governed by the Danish Act on Foundations.

I don't work for Novo Nordisk. None of my immediate family members work for Novo. I know people who work there, but that's not why I'm posting this. There is a tremendous need to improve diabetes care around the world. Millions of people lose limbs and go blind because of uncontrolled sugar levels. Simple medications can save lives and improve the quality of life for many of these people, but we simply don't have the means to disseminate that type of global care. The irony is that we have people who live in developed nations (like the U.S.A.) who have diabetes and who aren't receiving proper medical care. As a result, they are losing the battle against diabetes and they are requiring limb amputations, developing chronic kidney disease, and they are going blind.

To visit the World Diabetes Foundation, click on this link: http://www.worlddiabetesfoundation.org
(You may wish to make a donation while you're there)