COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

COPENHAGEN DOUBLES DOWN ON ADDRESSING VULNERABILITY

As the second city to join Cities Changing Diabetes, Copenhagen has made significant progress in the fight against diabetes. Unlike many other cities, citizens of Copenhagen have universal health coverage, which means that healthcare is free and people have equal access to it. Nevertheless, societal inequalities still make certain communities more vulnerable to developing diabetes.40,41 Copenhagen is focusing on addressing these inequalities.

INTERVENTION AT TWO LEVELS

The Copenhagen Diabetes Action Plan, which was informed by findings from Cities Changing Diabetes research, involves two tracks: the first is aimed at people with diabetes – intervention takes place at an individual level – and the second is focused on health promotion, where intervention takes place at a structural level. Examples of these two tracks can be seen in the Center for Diabetes, Copenhagen, and Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes.

11%

OF ADULTS IN COPENHAGEN WERE LIVING WITH OBESITY IN 201742

CENTER FOR DIABETES

The first of its kind in Denmark, the Center for Diabetes, Copenhagen, provides an environment where people living with type 2 diabetes can get support and advice. In addition to a team of professionals – nurses, physiotherapists and dieticians – the centre offers a health-stimulating environment, daily activities, patient education, physical exercise and cooking classes. A peer mentoring programme pairs up people with type 2 diabetes to support each other in adopting a healthy lifestyle. Three-quarters of people newly diagnosed with diabetes in Copenhagen visit the centre, which has proved to be so successful that the centre is due to reopen in a new, larger facility in 2023 to double capacity.

TINGBJERG CHANGING DIABETES

Tingbjerg, a socially disadvantaged neighbourhood in the north-west of Copenhagen, suffers from relatively poor socio-economic status and high levels of type 2 diabetes. The culturally and ethnically diverse neighbourhood is the focus of a healthy living and type 2 diabetes prevention programme.

Based on the ‘supersetting approach’, which involves multistakeholder engagement, in-depth understanding of local needs and citizen involvement, the programme mobilises local resources to strengthen social networks for collective community action.

Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes engages the entire community and currently focuses on three areas of intervention: food literacy, entrepreneurship and social investments. Concrete actions include a community garden created to promote outdoor life, social capital and well-being, and a citizendriven community restaurant, which serves affordable healthy meals at the same time as providing young residents with internship opportunities. The programme has also enabled community residents to acquire farming skills and inspiration for entrepreneurship at Svanholm organic farm.

In 2020, the programme will welcome more partners, and new initiatives will be implemented.

Center for Diabetes, Copenhagen, Denmark

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen

Danish Diabetes Association

University of Copenhagen

City of Copenhagen

“The success of this centre is based on the political priority of the diabetes problem, highly skilled and engaged healthcare professionals, collaborations within the healthcare sector and researchers, and finally strong leadership.”

Charlotte Glümer, head of the Center for Diabetes, Copenhagen

IN COPENHAGEN

15%

OF CHILDREN AGED 13–14 ARE OVERWEIGHT OR LIVE WITH OBESITY43 (RANGES BETWEEN 10% AND 24% DEPENDING ON THE DISTRICT)