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Houston first US city to join Cities Changing Diabetes program
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A partnership was recently announced between the city of Houston and Novo Nordisk to fight the urban diabetes epidemic, according to a company press release.
The Cities Changing Diabetes program was initiated early in 2014 by Novo Nordisk and Houston is the third city globally and the first in the United States to join the program.
“Diabetes and obesity pose a significant health threat to our city,” Annise D. Parker, mayor of Houston said in the release. “Cities Changing Diabetes is a unique opportunity to identify the health strategies that combat diabetes in a way that meet the individual needs of the people of Houston and Harris County. We look forward to collaborating with partners locally and around the world to develop solutions to this global epidemic.”
The program plans to work to understand the driving factors behind the rise in diabetes. An analysis of major gaps and vulnerabilities associated with diabetes will be conducted to gather information that will be used to determine which efforts will have the greatest impact on prevention and management of the disease.
“The City of Houston is an ideal partner as there is a strong commitment to improving health, which is seen with several strong programs already in existence to combat major health issues such as diabetes,” Lars Rebien Sørensen, chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk, said in the release. “It is urgent that policymakers, health authorities, academia, the non-profit sector and private industry work together to develop solutions to reverse the rise of urban diabetes. We are committed to working with our partners in Houston and around the world to identify solutions and spur concerted action.”