Latest estimates show that over 60 million Europeans live with diabetes. In Germany, this holds true for about 7.5 million people – with a rising tendency. As people are being diagnosed with diabetes at an increasingly younger age, in Germany alone, over 2 million patients with the chronic condition are of working age. This is why we are committed to improve the conditions for people living and working with diabetes.

Lilly's heritage in diabetes spans from the first commercial release of insulin in 1923 to leading scientific discoveries of today. In my position as Director Market Access at Lilly Germany, I aim at making new treatment options accessible for people facing the challenges of diabetes. We know from experience that the treatment of diabetes should and can be adapted to the everyday life of the patients. Bearing in mind the rising number of employees living with diabetes, we put a spotlight on the workplace.

We hold the view that an adequate medical treatment only represents one aspect for patients to live a life as normal as possible. Equally important is the support provided by the social and work environments, where people spend most of their time. That is why we are proud to be initiators and partners of the Diabetes@Work program. With the premise of “Taking initiative for a healthy workplace!” we joined forces with the labour union IG BCE Hesse-Thuringia, the umbrella organisation of corporate health funds and the association of company physicians. As partner of Diabetes@Work, we collect best practices of how to support people with diabetes at the workplace and aim at destigmatising the chronic disease.

Furthermore, we propose and discuss political solutions with leading German politicians to enhance prevention, early diagnosis and health promotion at work. We are convinced that improved regulatory conditions for diabetes prevention and care would not only serve the patients, but also the public health systems and society as a whole.

We at Lilly Germany will stay active in making life better for diabetes patients - in every step of their journey with the disease. With our commitment to research and development and our engagement in initiatives like Diabetes@Work, we won’t rest until people with diabetes can fully participate in working life and live a life as normal as possible.