It is estimated that more than 1.2 million young people under the age of 20 have type 1 diabetes and that approximately 184,100 new cases are diagnosed each year. Many of them live in low- and middle-income countries with limited or no access to diabetes care (1). In many low-resource countries, children lack access to insulin, blood glucose monitoring and appropriately trained health professionals. This can lead to poor blood glucose control and subsequent severe health complications and early death (2). Consequently, the Changing Diabetes® in Children partnership was established to bridge critical gaps in access to care for these vulnerable children around the world.

Changing Diabetes® in Children is a public-private partnership launched by Novo Nordisk in 2009. Its global partners are Roche, the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF). In each country where the program is active, it is implemented by a group of local partners in close collaboration with national health systems. The program aims to bring all elements of necessary diabetes care closer to the children who need it, while building capacity for the diagnosis and treatment of children with T1D at both community and country levels.

Changing Diabetes® in Children is structured around four components aimed at building a holistic system of care:

• Ensuring comprehensive patient education through equipment and materials
• Strengthening healthcare professional capacity with trainings on T1D diagnosis and treatment
• Bringing care closer to the people who need it by promoting accessible health facilities
• Ensuring access to insulin and supplies through donations and supply chain strengthening.

References:
(1) International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10 ed. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation;2021.
(2) World Health Organization. Global report on diabetes. World Health Organization;2016