In collaboration with Defy Media.
Novo Nordisk yesterday announced a partnership with the Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) and Roche to launch the Changing Diabetes® in Children (CDiC) project in Malaysia – a long-term initiative with a dedicated focus on improving the quality of care for children and young adults with type 1 diabetes. Children and young adults who have type 1 diabetes in Malaysia will receive free glucose monitoring supplies (glucometer and glucose test strips) – a significant advance in the management of diabetes in children and young adults. With its launch in Malaysia, CDiC will contribute to improving access to care, in line with this year’s World Diabetes Day theme of “Access to Diabetes Care”.
Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of childhood diabetes in Malaysia, accounting for 73%–77% of all childhood diabetes, and the International Diabetes Federation reported 955 cases of type 1 diabetes in Malaysian children aged 0–19 years in 2021. Nationally, the misdiagnosis rate for children with type 1 diabetes is 38.7%, which highlights the need for improving both awareness and access to care for childhood type 1 diabetes.
The CDiC project aims to bridge critical gaps in diagnosis, support self-monitoring of blood glucose, and patient knowledge by building on existing efforts to address local barriers to healthcare, support the development of comprehensive diabetes care solutions and integrating with local healthcare systems. Specific components of CDiC in Malaysia include providing educational workshops for patients and their caregivers, training healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of the disease, establishing or refurbishing diabetes resource centres, developing a national registry, research on type 1 diabetes management, as well as raising public awareness of type 1 diabetes in Malaysia.
The partnership was launched today by Dato’ Dr. Mohd. Azman bin Yacob, Director of the Medical Development Division from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, and was attended by project partners, healthcare professionals in diabetes care, as well as patients with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers. At the event, attendees heard about the treatment landscape in Malaysia, current management of type 1 diabetes, as well as the patient journey and challenges from Dr. Nurain Mohd Noor, President of MEMS and the chair of the CDiC project in Malaysia; Mr. Anand Shetty, the Corporate Vice President, Business Area South East Asia of Novo Nordisk; and Bryan Koh, Cluster Head of Asia Pacific Mature Markets, Roche Diabetes Care.
Dr. Nurain Mohd Noor, President of MEMS and the Chair of CDiC project Malaysia said, “The misdiagnosis rate of Malaysian children with type 1 diabetes is alarmingly high as children and young adults are often diagnosed with alternative conditions like respiratory or gastrointestinal illnesses. To address this pressing issue and ensure timely and accurate diagnoses and care, initiatives such as ‘Changing Diabetes® in Children’ are important for more timely interventions and improved care. The project will also equip frontliners with knowledge and management skills to help them help their patients with type 1 diabetes”.
Anand Shetty, the Corporate Vice President, Business Area South East Asia of Novo Nordisk stated, “Our purpose is to drive change to defeat chronic diseases such as diabetes by pioneering scientific breakthroughs and improving the lives of patients. With our CDiC partners in Malaysia, we aim to improve the lives of vulnerable type 1 diabetes patients by building a holistic system of care for children and young adults under the age of 25 living with type 1 diabetes.”
Bryan Koh, Cluster Head of Asia Pacific Mature Markets, Roche Diabetes Care, said, “We are committed to enhancing access to essential diabetes care for children and young adults living with type 1 diabetes in Malaysia with our partners, through building a sustainable continuum of care to support them in growing up well and fulfilling their full potential.”
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