We work and believe in a better future

The vision

The Novo Nordisk Foundation, in collaboration with each of Denmark’s administrative regions, has taken the initiative to establish five outpatient Steno Diabetes Centers

• Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
• Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus
• Steno Diabetes Center Odense
• Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark
• Steno Diabetes Center Zealand.

The vision for the Steno Diabetes Centers is to establish a framework for reducing the number of people developing diabetes while ensuring that people with diabetes will live longer with an enhanced quality of life. In establishing the centres, the Foundation wants to improve the quality of diabetes treatment and the prevention of complications to benefit both individuals with diabetes and society.

To reinforce the vision, the Steno Diabetes Centers are being established: patient-friendly and service-oriented clinics with personnel and facilities that will focus on the care goals for each individual, complemented by user-friendly surroundings with good accessibility. The activities will be based on research and of the highest international standard.

The vision will be realized through four core activities:

• Improved treatment of diabetes and prevention of late complications;
• patient-oriented research;
• intersectoral collaboration and disease prevention; and
• education.

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen was the first Steno Diabetes Center in Denmark. The centre was established on 1 January 2017 based on the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarding a grant of DKK 2.945 billion to the Capital Region of Denmark, which owns and operates the centre. It will be located in a new building adjacent to Herlev Hospital.

In September 2017, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a grant of DKK 1.4 billion to the Region of Southern Denmark for establishing and operating Steno Diabetes Center Odense after the regional council approved a detailed plan for the centre. The Foundation also approved a grant of DKK 1.4 billion to the Central Denmark Region for establishing and operating Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, also based on the regional council approving a detailed plan for the centre.

In December 2017, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a grant of DKK 795 million to the North Denmark Region for establishing and operating Steno Diabetes Centre North Denmark after the regional council approved a detailed plan for the centre.

The three Steno Diabetes Centers began operating on 1 January 2018. The centres will occupy new buildings that will be constructed near Odense University Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital and the new Aalborg University Hospital, respectively. 

In September 2018 the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a grant of DKK 835.4 million to Region Zealand for establishing and operating Steno Diabetes Center Zealand after the regional council approved a detailed plan for the centre.

The aim of the Steno Diabetes Centers is to contribute to improving the overall efforts to treat and prevent diabetes to benefit people with diabetes throughout Denmark. The Steno Diabetes Centers in Denmark will collaborate in developing treatment and prevention activities and on research and education.

The specific plans for establishing the Steno Diabetes Centers will be implemented collaboratively between the Foundation and each region and through dialogue with professional bodies, actors from the municipalities and general practice. The discussion will take into account the specific circumstances of each region. Involving patients is key to the centres activities and physical framework.

How we work

The aim of the Steno Diabetes Centers is to contribute to improving the overall efforts to treat and prevent diabetes to benefit people with diabetes throughout Denmark.

The Steno Diabetes Centers in Denmark will collaborate in developing treatment and prevention activities and on research and education.