HemoCue partners with Novo Nordisk

HemoCue enters partnership with Novo Nordisk to improve point-of-care diagnostic testing for children with type 1 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries.

HemoCue, a global leader in point-of-care diagnostic testing, today announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to improve point-of-care diagnostic testing for children with type 1 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries. This will support Novo Nordisk’s Changing Diabetes^® in Children (CDiC) programme, which last year provided free life-saving medicine to more than 52,000 children with type 1 diabetes in low-resource settings and aims to reach 100,000 children by 2030.

The partnership means that HemoCue^® HbA1c 501 Systems will be placed in more than 400 clinics in 30 countries across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. India is the first country to benefit from this, with all sites across the relevant markets expected to be fully equipped during the first quarter of 2024.

HbA1c test is a blood test that measures the average blood sugar levels and a vital tool for effective diabetes management. HbA1c at the point of care mainly offers an opportunity for more timely treatment changes. With proper diabetes monitoring using HbA1c and subsequent compliance to treatment, fewer children may suffer the risk of diabetes-related complications.

With the monitoring of HbA1c, HemoCue will support local partners and end users in the roll-out and throughout the partnership to ensure the commitment to long-term sustainability and continuity of care.

“This collaboration marks a significant advancement to the programme by strengthening the quality and standardising the HbA1c results amongst the children and young adults with type 1 diabetes. HemoCue will contribute to further enhancing the programme effectiveness by promoting the sustainability of our solutions and encouraging capacity development,” said Pierre Costabel, Project Manager of the CDiC programme at HemoCue.

Changing Diabetes^® in Children is a public-private partnership founded in 2009. Its goal is to provide comprehensive care to children and adolescents under the age of 25 with type 1 diabetes living in low-and middle-income countries. The partnership takes a sustainable approach and relies on local cooperation from ministries of health, implementing partners and academic institutions.

Within the CDiC programme, Novo Nordisk partners with Roche, the International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), all contributing significantly to its outreach and impact.

Facts about the CDiC programme^*

• CDiC aims to reach 100,000 children living with type 1 diabetes by 2030.
• 52,000 children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes in low-resource settings have been reached by Changing Diabetes^® in Children since its inception.
• More than 400 clinics have been established or refurbished as an integrated part of national healthcare systems, ensuring coverage in remote and rural areas.
• More than 25,000 healthcare professionals have received training on diagnosing and managing type 1 diabetes in children.