Bagsværd, Denmark, November 11, 2026
Novo Nordisk has announced a major USD 200 million funding commitment to the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) over a 10-year period from 2027 to 2036. The initiative aims to strengthen diabetes prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among underserved communities facing significant healthcare challenges. Announced ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14, the commitment highlights Novo Nordisk’s continued efforts to improve equitable access to diabetes care and support sustainable healthcare systems worldwide. The investment will help the World Diabetes Foundation expand existing partnerships, strengthen local healthcare infrastructure and develop long-term solutions to address the growing global burden of diabetes. Through this collaboration, the company seeks to improve access to essential healthcare services while supporting community-based diabetes prevention and management programs.
Novo Nordisk Expands Investment in Global Diabetes Prevention
The USD 200 million commitment covering 2027–2036 represents a significant investment in global diabetes prevention and care. According to the announcement, approximately 589 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, making it one of the most pressing global public health challenges. Around 80% of adults aged 20–79 with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries, where limited healthcare resources, insufficient screening facilities and barriers to treatment can contribute to delayed diagnosis and inadequate disease management. The funding will provide the World Diabetes Foundation with greater financial stability to plan and implement long-term healthcare initiatives. Rather than focusing exclusively on short-term interventions, the foundation will work with regional and international partners to integrate diabetes prevention, screening and treatment into existing healthcare services. This approach is intended to strengthen local healthcare systems, improve continuity of care and support sustainable outcomes for patients. The commitment also reinforces the importance of addressing health inequalities through coordinated partnerships between healthcare organizations, governments and local communities. By supporting programs tailored to regional healthcare needs, Novo Nordisk and the foundation aim to improve access to essential diabetes services for vulnerable populations.
World Diabetes Foundation Strengthens Healthcare Partnerships
The World Diabetes Foundation has established several successful healthcare partnerships demonstrating the potential impact of sustained investment in diabetes care. In Tanzania, more than two decades of collaboration helped transform a small diabetes clinic into a nationwide government-owned program addressing non-communicable diseases. The initiative supported the training of thousands of healthcare professionals and helped integrate treatment and referral guidelines into the national public healthcare system. These improvements contributed to stronger healthcare delivery and greater capacity to manage diabetes and related chronic conditions. In Jordan, the foundation and its partners integrated diabetes prevention, screening, counselling and treatment services into existing healthcare facilities. Over five years, the initiative strengthened more than 190 healthcare facilities, trained over 2,000 healthcare providers and improved healthcare services for more than 192,000 people, including refugees and host communities. These programs demonstrate how long-term partnerships can strengthen healthcare infrastructure while supporting more accessible diabetes prevention and treatment services. The new funding commitment is expected to help the foundation build upon these established models and expand its activities in additional underserved communities.
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Long-Term Funding Supports Equitable Access to Diabetes Care
The latest announcement reflects Novo Nordisk’s broader commitment to addressing chronic diseases through healthcare partnerships, disease prevention and improved access to treatment. The World Diabetes Foundation has worked for more than 25 years to support people living with diabetes and related non-communicable diseases, particularly in regions where healthcare resources remain limited. Leif Fenger Jensen, Managing Director of the World Diabetes Foundation, welcomed the commitment, emphasizing its importance in supporting long-term prevention programs and expanding equitable healthcare access. Novo Nordisk also highlighted the importance of sustainable healthcare improvements through collaboration with local organizations and public health systems. Elin Jäger, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff to the CEO, Transformation and Sustainability, emphasized that meaningful healthcare improvements require sustained investment, strong partnerships and practical solutions that can become part of routine healthcare delivery. The initiative is designed to support long-term improvements in healthcare capacity rather than provide a temporary response to the increasing diabetes burden. Overall, Novo Nordisk’s USD 200 million commitment represents an important development in global diabetes prevention and healthcare accessibility. By supporting the World Diabetes Foundation over the next decade, the company aims to strengthen healthcare systems, expand community-based prevention initiatives and improve access to diabetes care in underserved regions. The investment also highlights the growing importance of public health partnerships, sustainable healthcare infrastructure and equitable diabetes treatment access in addressing one of the world’s most widespread chronic diseases.
Source: Novo Nordisk press release
