Denmark's Novo Nordisk partners to tackle Qatar's diabetes problem

According to Danish insulin giant Novo Nordisk (NVO: N) diabetes is on the rise in Qatar and poses a serious threat to the health of the nation. According to new data released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Qatar has one of the highest rates of diabetes prevalence in the region; 20.2% of the population now has diabetes, IDF estimates.

As a response to this global threat, a project aiming to tackle the spread of diabetes in Qatar was launched yesterday in Doha. Action on Diabetes is a partnership between Supreme Council of Health, the Hamad Medical Corporation, the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), Maersk Oil and Novo Nordisk. The aim is to raise awareness of diabetes, advise on how to prevent it and support people already living with diabetes manage their health better.

Abdulla Al Hamaq of QDA said at the launch: “We’re very concerned about the rise of diabetes in Qatar, where levels are already amongst the highest in the world. We’re really delighted to be getting the support of Maersk Oil and Novo Nordisk in our efforts to tackle the problem. I feel optimistic that ‘Action on Diabetes’ can help us make a significant impact on diabetes in Qatar”.