DAWN
There are many psychological problems associated with diabetes. Yet healthcare professionals acknowledge that they lack the resources to deal with them appropriately and point to a major gap in terms of patient-centred communication involving the entire care team.
This was among the findings of the Novo Nordisk DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) study, which led to the global, multi-stakeholder DAWN programme.
Performance 2007
DAWN Youth supports young people with diabetes
2007 was the year of the Child and to celebrate this, the DAWN initiative has focused on establishing national efforts for improved health and quality of life of children with diabetes in more than 10 countries world-wide.
DAWN Youth is a new global initiative, in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). In September 2007, at the congress of the European Association of the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Novo Nordisk and the IDF presented a global overview of the diabetes burden among children and adolescents. Called the Diabetes Youth Charter, this expert review into existing data and global trends within childhood diabetes highlighted that many children are in poor control of their diabetes. Early diagnosis, prevention and improved control can reverse the situation, the experts found.
As a follow-up activity, Novo Nordisk together with the IDF and ISPAD launched the DAWN Youth programme at the ISPAD Congress in September 2007. This programme facilitates advocacy, research and action to improve the lives of young people with diabetes and their families.
Already, DAWN Youth has been forming the basis for national or local efforts to address the unique needs and wishes of people with diabetes. A range of examples of such activities can be viewed on the DAWN Youth Website at www.dawnyouth.com.
DAWN Youth is another demonstration of Novo Nordisk’s commitment to changing the course of diabetes by addressing the person behind the disease.
In an effort to discover what it will take to build strong support systems for young people with diabetes, one of the main activities in DAWN Youth is a survey conducted in 2007. This examines the attitudes, wishes and needs of young people as well as their families, healthcare professionals, peer groups and others close to young people on an international scale to guide international as well as national initiatives.
Novo Nordisk approach
The global DAWN programme, conducted in collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), is an ongoing advocacy and action programme driven by Novo Nordisk to promote people-centred diabetes care and overcome the psychosocial barriers to effective self-management.
The DAWN programme provides an international framework for advocacy, guidelines, practical tools and best practice across the world. This includes national 'train-the-trainer' programmes for primary care physicians on the psychological aspect of care, and quality-of-life questionnaires for people with diabetes that several countries now incorporate in routine health evaluations. In addition, three international summits have been held to increase awareness and encourage debate and action on the issue. DAWN-related activities are an integral part of the Novo Nordisk’s National Changing Diabetes® programme and are being carried out by Novo Nordisk and partners in more than 49 countries.
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