Published on 11th June, 2024
KASPER DOLBERG ENGAGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOVO NORDISK
Kasper Dolberg and Novo Nordisk are Focusing on Life with Type 1 Diabetes. The Danish football player Kasper Dolberg and Novo Nordisk have entered a partnership to create awareness about the fact that it is possible to live a good and active life despite living with Type 1 diabetes.
The mood is great, and he is nearing peak form. Only just a year ago, life looked significantly different for the 25 year old football player. Although Dolberg generated lots of self-confidence during 2021 with lots of great performances on the football pitch, he didn’t feel well. Dolberg felt tired and without energy.
In November 2021 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It’s a disease he is sharing with approx. 28,000 other Danes, and which often affects children and young people. Kasper Dolberg says:
“It was a chock for me to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was very concerned for my health and my professional football career, but after a while getting used to living with the disease, I learned how to manage my diabetes. Although I need to keep an eye out for my blood sugar and need to be careful with what I’m eating, I can continue with my life both on and off the pitch.”
Role models
After it was publicly known that the striker has diabetes, Dolberg has received a lot of attention from the media and inquiries from parents with children diagnosed with diabetes.
Until now he has been reluctant to talk about his disease, but he is now ready to come forward and share his story. There is a special reason for that, Kasper Dolberg explains:
“Of course, it’s never great to be diagnosed with a chronic disease which you will live with for the rest of your life. At the same time, it’s important to make it clear, that you can live an active life with diabetes if you make sure to take care of yourself. That’s the message I want provide and help creating awareness about it – especially for all the children, the young people and their families, who are living with the disease up close.”
Novo Nordisk is excited that Dolberg has agreed to engage into a partnership and to help them increase awareness of Type 1 diabetes. Jeppe Theisen, head of Novo Nordisk Denmark, says:
“100 years ago, to be diagnosed with diabetes was associated with great suffering and early death. Fortunately, that is not the case today. It’s perfectly normal to live a good and long life and pursue ones’ dreams, despite having diabetes. It’s important for children and young people to know that. Exactly therefore we need role models like Kasper Dolberg.”
The level of knowledge must be raised
The Danish Diabetes Association is happy that one of Denmark’s greatest football players will help bring Type 1 diabetes into focus. It’s a disease which many people know too little about. Claus Richter, CEO Danish Diabetes Association, says:
“Life is changing in families when a child gets diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and naturally worries and uncertainties arise. It’s experienced as a 24/7 fight. As everyone in the family learn how to cope with the disease, it’s often life outside home that causes concern. Therefore, diabetes is a fight to be taken seriously and to be understood.”
He continues:
“For example, it applies in the schools, where the teachers and friends often don’t know of the disease, which makes it hard to help and support in everyday life. Therefore, we are working on raising the level of Type 1 diabetes knowledge everywhere in society, and when Kasper Dolberg is telling about his diabetes fight, it is helping all of us. It contributes ensuring greater visibility and understanding of diabetes.”
Facts about Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease in which the cells in the pancreas, which produce the vital hormone insulin, are destroyed. When you can’t produce enough insulin, you get high blood sugar and this will eventually cause damage to the small blood vessels in the eyes and kidneys and the larger ones e.g. in the heart, if you are not treated.
It is not known for certain why some people develop Type 1 diabetes, but the disease is probably due to an interaction between genes and environmental factors. It is not possible to cure Type 1 diabetes, but the disease can be treated so that you can live with it.
Around 28,000 Danes live with Type 1 diabetes. It is most often children and young people who get the disease. The age group with the most new diagnoses is among the 5-14-year-olds, but adults and the elderly are increasingly developing Type 1 diabetes too.
More information
Inquiries concerning Kasper Dolberg: Mads H. Frederiksen, f Sports Group, +45 28340724, mhf@fsportsgroup.com
Inquiries concerning Novo Nordisk: Thomas Bille Winkel, +45 40919878, tbwl@novonordisk.com