Novo Nordisk extends free insulin and diabetes care program to India

Denmark’s Novo Nordisk (NVO: N), the world’s largest insulin maker, yesterday launched its Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) program in India, where more than 50 million people are living with diabetes and only scarce data exists about children with diabetes. The program is a partnership initiative that works to improve the provision of childhood diabetes care in developing countries.

There are many barriers to diabetes care for children living with the disease in developing countries. Among these is lack of trained healthcare professionals, lack of health care infrastructure and dilemmas for families having to choose between food and life-saving medicine, the company says. Such circumstances may lead to misdiagnosis, poor management of treatment, early complications and premature death of children.

Novo Nordisk says that the program entails free provision of insulin, blood glucometers and strips for the children and a comprehensive training manual for healthcare professionals and diabetes educators has been developed as well as locally adapted educational materials for children and their families.