Novo Nordisk Community Care Supports Portland Nonprofit Organizations in Fight Against Diabetes

Four local organizations make a significant impact in the community, empowering residents living with type 2 diabetes.

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Dec 12, 2013, 12:00 ET

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk announced it joined forces with four Portland nonprofit organizations to help stem the tide of type 2 diabetes at the local level and help support programs that will educate and empower local residents to better manage their diabetes. All four organizations support the well-being of patients in the Portland community and provide overall health-related guidance and resources through their cutting-edge programs.

African American Health Coalition, Inc., a local coalition serving the African American community, will launch three workshops based on the Diabetes Self-Management Program model, where attendees will learn management tools for home blood glucose monitoring, insulin injection, foot care, regular eye exams, pain management, fatigue management, relaxation and management of emotions, nutrition, exercise and medications related to type 2 diabetes. These workshops will target African American elders who have type 2 diabetes
The Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center at OHSU, which supports the Oregon Health and Science University Foundation, will develop a program that will empower and teach patients with type 2 diabetes to improve their eating habits through better food shopping as well as improved cooking skills. This program will help reinforce dietary self-management skills for patients
Legacy Health, which supports Meridian Park Medical Foundation, will create an engaging and interactive program titled "Feel Better! A Type 2 Diabetes Social Marketing Demonstration Project" by establishing social dinners at a local community kitchen and self-efficacy building to create goals and behavior changes in people with type 2 diabetes
The Wallace Medical Concern, a patient-focused, innovative health care organization, will enhance their existing type 2 diabetes management program with the "Better Together to Boost PODER (Patients Overcoming the Diabetes Epidemic in Rockwood)" program. PODER is designed to improve health outcomes by integrating chronic disease management education, medical treatment, peer support, physical activity and nutrition resources

All four local organizations' programs were selected as part of the Novo Nordisk Community Care initiative, which provides funding to nonprofit organizations across the country to support educational programs that empower people living with type 2 diabetes to take control of their health and, ultimately, help prevent long-term complications. The groups were selected because their proposed programs are sustainable, impactful and educational, and took an innovative approach to addressing type 2 diabetes.

"Diabetes has become a national health crisis and is taking a major toll on local communities, including Portland" said Diana Blankman, Senior Director, U.S. Corporate Giving and Social Impact at Novo Nordisk. "By 2015, an additional 1 million people in the state of Oregon are in danger of developing diabetes.ⁱ With these rising statistics, Novo Nordisk recognizes the critical role these local organizations play in addressing the health crisis and are committed to helping them address this crisis on the local level."

According to data commissioned by Novo Nordisk from the Institute of Alternative Futures, by 2015 Oregon is estimated to have 379,500 people with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes.ⁱⁱ This dramatic increase could mean a total of $3.7 billion in total medical and indirect societal costs of diabetes for the state of Oregon by 2015.ⁱⁱⁱ

In addition to Portland, Novo Nordisk is awarding Community Care sponsorships to nonprofit groups in Seattle, Washington, and Rochester, Minnesota, where diabetes carries a heavy burden on the communities. Since the program's inception in 2011, Novo Nordisk Community Care has supported nearly 40 local diabetes nonprofit organizations in 11 local communities that are making an impact on type 2 diabetes. For more information about the program, visit www.novonordisk-us.com/communitycare.

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global health care company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone therapy. For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com or follow US activities on Twitter at @novonordiskus.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk