Interim Results of First-Ever Global Survey Show People with Type 2 Diabetes Underestimate their Cardiovascular Risk

Abu Dhabi, Uae (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of
death in people with type 2 diabetes[1]
- 1 in 3 respondents considered themselves to be at low risk of
CVD[2]
- 1 in 6 respondents had never discussed type 2 diabetes and
cardiovascular risk with a healthcare professional[2]
- The Taking Diabetes to Heart global online survey for people with
type 2 diabetes was presented at the IDF Congress 2017 in Abu Dhabi

Today the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) presented the
interim results of the first ever multi-country online survey on CVD
risk awareness and knowledge among people living with type 2
diabetes, indicating low levels of awareness and limited dialogue
between patients and healthcare professionals. The global survey -
Taking Diabetes to Heart - developed in partnership with Novo
Nordisk, runs until March 2018 and is open to all people with type 2
diabetes.

Diabetes currently affects 425 million adults worldwide[1], with
most cases being type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease, which
includes stroke, coronary heart disease and peripheral artery
disease[3], is the leading cause of disability and death in people
with type 2 diabetes[1],[4].

To date, 943 responses to the survey have been received from 32
countries and interim findings show that:

- 1 in 3 respondents living with type 2 diabetes consider their risk
of CVD to be low[2]
- 26% of respondents had either never learned about CVD or received
information on CVD several years following their type 2 diabetes
diagnosis[2]
- 1 in 6 respondents had never discussed their type 2 diabetes and
CVD risk with a healthcare professional[2]

"The interim results of Taking Diabetes to Heart reiterate the
importance of raising awareness of the association between type 2
diabetes and cardiovascular disease to promote prevention, timely
diagnosis and appropriate treatment to help reduce the current burden
that the two conditions represent," said Dr Shaukat Sadikot, outgoing
IDF President. "With the world facing an increase in the prevalence
of type 2 diabetes, better understanding the link between these
conditions is needed more than ever."

Taking Diabetes to Heart -
http://www.idf.org/takingdiabetes2heart/survey - aims to gather
insights on current gaps in education and CVD risk behaviour among
people with type 2 diabetes, and to put in place advocacy and patient
support strategies and tactics to improve health and wellbeing among
populations.

"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and
death among people living with type 2 diabetes. Too few individuals
with diabetes are being informed by healthcare professionals of their
cardiovascular risk and the impact that risk may have on their
longevity and quality of life," said Alan Moses, senior vice
president and chief medical officer of Novo Nordisk. "We encourage
more people in the diabetes community to complete the Taking Diabetes
to Heart survey to strengthen the global findings that will inform
future efforts to help improve outcomes."

The results of Taking Diabetes to Heart will serve to define the
actions that are required to improve the health outcomes of people
with type 2 diabetes. The initiative will culminate in a
comprehensive report with country-specific results and resources to
help support knowledge and awareness of CVD among people with type 2
diabetes around the world.

For more information about Taking Diabetes to Heart, visit
http://www.idf.org/takingdiabetes2heart. For more information about
diabetes and CVD, visit http://www.idf.org/cvd

About the International Diabetes Federation

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella
organisation of over 230 national diabetes associations in 165
countries and territories. It represents the interests of the growing
number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has
been leading the global diabetes community since 1950. The
Federation's activities aim to influence policy, increase public
awareness and encourage health improvement, promote the exchange of
high-quality information about diabetes, and provide education for
people with diabetes and their healthcare providers. IDF is
associated with the Department of Public Information of the United
Nations and is in official relations with the World Health
Organization (WHO). http://www.idf.org.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90
years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage
has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help
people defeat obesity, haemophilia, growth disorders and other
serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk
employs approximately 41,700 people in 77 countries and markets its
products in more than 165 countries. For more information, visit
novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.

Taking Diabetes to Heart

Taking Diabetes to Heart -
http://www.idf.org/takingdiabetes2heart - consists of an online
survey available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Bulgarian,
Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Filipino, Finnish, German,
Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese.
The survey will remain online until March 2018. Results from the
survey will be used to inform policy and decision-making around this
common and serious complication of diabetes.[2],[3]

Further information

Media:

Katrine Sperling +45 4442 6718 krsp@novonordisk.com

Åsa Josefsson +45 3079 7708 aajf@novonordisk.com

Investors:

Peter Hugreffe Ankersen +45 3075 9085 phak@novonordisk.com

Hanna Ögren +45 3079 8519 haoe@novonordisk.com

Anders Mikkelsen +45 3079 4461 armk@novonordisk.com

Christina Kjær +45 3079 3009 cnje@novonordisk.com

Kasper Veje (US) +1 609 235 8567 kpvj@novonordisk.com

IDF Media:

Lorenzo Piemonte +32 495 797 936 lorenzo.piemonte@idf.org

Suvi Karuranga +32 267 955 88 suvi.karuranga@idf.org

References

1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 8th
Edition. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2017.
Available at: http://www.diabetesatlas.org

2. International Diabetes Federation, 2017. Taking Diabetes to
Heart - Global IDF survey on CVD risk awareness among people with
diabetes. Available at: http://www.idf.org/takingdiabetes2heart

3. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes and Cardiovascular
Disease. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2016.
Available at: http://www.idf.org/cvd

4. World Health Organization, editor. Global health risks:
mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks.
Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009. 62p.

ots Originaltext: Novo Nordisk A/S
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