Merck and International Diabetes Federation Partner to Help Address Global Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic

Focus on education and awareness-raising initiatives to facilitate prevention of type 2 diabetes
Partnership activities include online course for healthcare professionals and joint awareness campaign on World Diabetes Day  14 November 2017

Merck, a leading science and technology company with 60 years of clinical experience in diabetes, today announced its partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to implement education and communications activities emphasizing the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes. The IDF recognize diabetes overall as one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century and type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, estimated to contribute to up to 90% of global diabetes cases.1 Yet many cases of type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented.

“Merck shares the International Diabetes Federation’s vision of promoting diabetes care and prevention worldwide, and we are committed to helping improve the lives of people living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Belén Garijo, M.D., member of the Executive Board and CEO Healthcare at Merck. “The IDF’s prestigious platforms, such as the online School of Diabetes and World Diabetes Day, provide a valued way for our joint education and awareness initiatives to reach and empower people with the knowledge they need in the fight against diabetes.”

The first partnership activity, available now on the IDF’s School of Diabetes website, is a CME accredited, IDF-certified healthcare professional (HCP) course about prevention of type 2 diabetes developed with an educational grant from Merck, which enables unlimited access for HCPs globally. The IDF’s online school, www.idfdiabeteschool.org, is a one-stop portal that gives access to up-to-date, evidence-based information on all aspects of diabetes care, management and prevention, which is developed and reviewed by world-leading specialists.2

Dr. Shaukat Sadikot, President of IDF, says, “The world is facing a rising prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes, due to limited knowledge on prevention and insufficiently informed self-management. Healthcare professionals have an important role to play to tackle this issue. Our self-paced online short course aims to enhance their knowledge and provide evidence-based strategies for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.”

Merck’s partnership with the IDF extends to World Diabetes Day 2017 (14 November), which is themed ‘Women and diabetes.’ Merck is committed to and involved in raising awareness about women’s health with the program Healthy Women, Healthy Economies. Alongside the IDF, Merck is proud to support the global awareness-raising initiative to promote healthier lifestyles for women at risk of or living with diabetes globally and advoca