• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Newt Gingrich and Novo Nordisk Join Texas Health Care Leaders in a Call-to-Action Against the Diabetes Epidemic

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 09:01 CDT

IRVING, Texas, July 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Former House Speaker and Founder of the Center for Health Transformation Newt Gingrich joined representatives from Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care and local health care experts Thursday in issuing a call-to-action at "The Diabetes Challenge for Texas!: An Executive Colloquium." The event was moderated by Camille Miller, President/CEO of the Texas Institute for Health Policy Research and focused on reforming health care strategies in order to improve outcomes for area diabetes patients. The evening culminated with a multidisciplinary group of health experts forming an action committee dedicated to creating and refining preventative and treatment practices to lessen the burden of diabetes in Texas.

"Diabetes represents an enormous health issue here in Texas, as well as all over the world," remarked Pablo Mora, MD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, and chairman of the action committee. "The formation of this group is an important first step in ensuring the state's diabetes community is working together to provide the best possible care for those affected by the disease."

Supported by an initial grant from Novo Nordisk, the diabetes action committee will provide a platform for Texas' diabetes thought leaders to unite and affect real health care progress. Specific calls-to-action for the committee include:

* Providing a forum to prioritize and address key issues for all parties affected by diabetes * Enhancing current successful efforts by establishing communication links between existing programs * Developing an environment where innovative local initiatives can b applied statewide * Facilitating the opportunity for a collaborative policy agenda * Demonstrating the financial benefits associated with providing Texans with the best diabetes care possible

"The time has come to change how diabetes is treated, in Texas and throughout the U.S.," commented Martin Soeters, president of Novo Nordisk Inc. "It is our hope that by facilitating the dialogue, driving action and change, Novo Nordisk serves as the catalyst that helps initiate and sustain improved diabetes care."

In the spirit of recognizing best practices and contributions to diabetes care in Texas, an award was presented to the Texas Diabetes Council.

Executive Colloquium Discussion

The colloquium, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, explored the measures necessary to bridge the existing gaps in diabetes treatment, prevention and education. Experts from the medical, managed care, health policy, and business communities identified key issues hindering diabetes care today, and offered methods to address those challenges. Chief among the concerns was the health care system's current acute care model, which focuses on treating patients during the late stages of the disease, when patients have limited options for successful treatment. Support was widespread for a chronic care model that would focus on prevention and early stage management of diabetes, decreasing the risk of complications and reducing related costs.

Additional issues were discussed, such as how to ensure proper access to care for patients in rural areas. Education and income levels were also considered. According to a 2003 study conducted by the Texas Department of Health (TDH), statistics show that Texans without a high school degree or below the poverty line are much more likely to develop diabetes. Ethnicity is also a primary factor, as incidence of the disease is higher in African Americans and Hispanics than Caucasians.

"The diabetes crisis is having a tragic impact on the lives of Americans, particularly among minorities, who are at increased risk for diabetes and its complications. It is vitally important that private industry partners together with local diabetes community leaders address this devastating and costly epidemic," said Speaker Gingrich. "We commend Novo Nordisk for their leadership in bringing together and supporting Texas' local leaders in their efforts to combat diabetes and eliminate health disparities."

The TDH study shows that diabetes is an especially grave health issue in Texas, with over 1.3 million adults (8.1 percent of the state's adult population) diagnosed with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control reports that an additional 343,000 adults are believed to have diabetes, but remain undiagnosed. Overall, diabetes is the sixth-leading cause of death in the state, according to the Texas Diabetes Council, a group within the TDH. The statistics are even more alarming in Texas' minority communities, where diabetes is the fourth-leading cause of death among Hispanics and African Americans.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 80-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. With the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems, Novo Nordisk is a world leader in diabetes care. In the United States, Novo Nordisk's ambition is to change the course of diabetes for good. Working as a catalyst to improve diabetes prevention and treatment, the company strives to be the preferred partner for employees, patients, healthcare providers, and others in the healthcare system who share its vision to defeat diabetes. In addition to diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 21,000 full-time employees in 78 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For global information, visit http://www.novonordisk.com/; for United States information, visit http://www.novonordisk-us.com/.

Novo Nordisk

CONTACT: Chris Finnegan of Hill & Knowlton, +1-202-944-5121, for NovoNordisk; or Susan Jackson of Novo Nordisk, +1-609-919-7776

Web site: http://www.novonordisk.com/http://www.novonordisk-us.com/

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category