Steno Diabetes Center

What Steno Diabetes Center does

Steno Diabetes Center is a network of seven public, specialised diabetes centres operating across Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, treating more than 30,000 patients with diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases collectively. Each centre is owned by its respective regional or national public health authority (the five Danish regions, the Government of Greenland, and the Government of the Faroe Islands) and operated as a fully integrated component of the public healthcare systems in those territories, with services provided at no direct cost to patients. The network is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which has committed more than DKK 7.8 billion (~€1 billion) in grants between 2015 and 2023 to fund supplementary treatment, clinical research, prevention initiatives, education and capital projects across the centres.

The network combines outpatient clinical care with research, prevention and healthcare-professional education under one roof at each location. Its flagship technology platforms include SAMBLIK, a cross-sector data-sharing platform developed by Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus that gives clinicians across primary care, secondary care and municipalities unified access to patient histories, treatment goals, hospital visits and medication data, and which is being integrated into the Danish national health IT infrastructure in collaboration with the Danish Health Data Authority; and Puisa, a low-bandwidth telemedicine app enabling remote consultations for patients in Greenland's remote settlements. Specialised clinical programmes include the Fusion Clinic for integrated diabetes and mental illness care, the REDUCE group-based diabetes distress programme, portable-camera diabetic retinopathy screening, and the Tingbjerg health-inequity intervention in Copenhagen. Each centre carries a distinct thematic mandate — e.g., Odense on type 2 diabetes, North Denmark on digital health, Zealand on health inequity, Greenland on cross-condition lifestyle disease, and the Faroe Islands on diabetes and endocrine disorders.

The revenue model is non-commercial: centres are funded by regional and national public health budgets for day-to-day operations, with the Novo Nordisk Foundation providing supplementary capital for facilities, research, prevention and innovation. The customer base is patients within the public healthcare systems (served free at point of care), and the network is positioned as a quasi-national diabetes infrastructure asset covering the entire Danish Realm rather than a competitive commercial provider.

Name

Steno Diabetes Center

Legal name

Steno Diabetes Center

Website

https://steno.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Steno Diabetes Center is a network of seven public, specialised diabetes centres across Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, treating over 30,000 patients with diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases. The centres are publicly funded, owned by regional and national health authorities, and supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diabetes and Endocrinology Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endocrinology & Diabetes Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAD), Hypertension & Kidney-Related Blood Pressure Clinics (HLAKAHAF), Diabetes Education & Insulin Management (Home-Based) (HSABACAJ), Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Diabetes treatment
• Clinical research
• Preventive healthcare
• Telemedicine services
• Specialised endocrinology

Headquarters

HQ city

Gentofte

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Steno Diabetes Centers deliver research-based diabetes treatment, prevention, clinical research and education across seven specialised centres in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. They provide outpatient consultations, endocrinology and diabetes-specialist care, mental health integration, retinopathy screening, telemedicine, and digital health platforms, serving more than 30,000 people with diabetes in total under public healthcare funding supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Product overview

The Steno Diabetes Centers comprise seven specialised diabetes centres across Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The centres include Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (the largest in northern Europe), Aarhus, Odense, North Denmark, Zealand, Greenland, and Faroe Islands. Together they have treated more than 30,000 people with diabetes. In addition to clinical care, the centres offer digital health platforms including the SAMBLIK data-sharing platform (enabling cross-sector healthcare data access) and the Puisa telemedicine app (supporting remote consultations in Greenland). Specialised programmes include diabetic retinopathy screening with portable cameras, the Fusion Clinic for integrated diabetes and mental health care, diabetes distress screening tools with the REDUCE treatment programme, and the Tingbjerg health promotion initiative targeting health inequity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC) The largest diabetes centre in northern Europe, providing comprehensive diabetes care, clinical research, and education to 11,000-13,000 people annually. Established on 1 January 2017 and located at Herlev Hospital.
• Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus (SDCA) An innovative diabetes outpatient centre treating around 8,000 people annually, designed to generate specialised knowledge and put individuals with diabetes at the heart of all activities. Opened in 2018.
• Steno Diabetes Center Odense (SDCO) Diabetes centre with special focus on type 2 diabetes, including research, prevention, detection, treatment of late complications and training of healthcare professionals. Opened in 2018 at Odense University Hospital.
• Steno Diabetes Center North Denmark (SDCN) Diabetes centre developing and disseminating digital health solutions to ensure all people with diabetes in the region receive the same high-quality treatment. Treats around 5,000 people annually.
• Steno Diabetes Center Zealand (SDCS) Diabetes centre with particular focus on tackling health inequity in diabetes and related complications, and minimising the risk of socially disadvantaged people developing the disease. Treats around 10,000 people annually with multi-location presence.
• Steno Diabetes Center Greenland (SDCG) National knowledge, development and outpatient treatment centre for diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases (COPD, hypertension) for the entire Greenlandic population. Opened in 2020 and housed in a new 2,500 sqm building in Nuuk from October 2025.
• Steno Diabetes Center Faroe Islands (SDCF / Steno Miðstøðin) Diabetes and endocrine care centre serving the Faroe Islands population with focus on patient-centred treatment methods, strengthening collaboration across the healthcare system, and monitoring diabetes populations.
• SAMBLIK Data-Sharing Platform Digital data-sharing platform developed by Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus that gives medical professionals across primary and secondary care access to the same comprehensive information about diabetes patients, including medical history, treatment goals, hospital visits and medication. Being integrated into the Danish national health IT infrastructure for cross-sector data sharing.
• Puisa Telemedicine App Telemedicine application enabling patients to have initial consultations or routine appointments with healthcare professionals via a secure online connection. Designed to work on minimal bandwidth and available on patient smartphones or at health centre tablets in Greenland's remote settlements.
• Diabetes Distress Screening Tool and REDUCE Treatment Programme A 7-statement screening questionnaire based on the T1-DDS-28 to identify diabetes distress in people with type 1 diabetes, paired with the REDUCE group-based treatment programme led by diabetes nurses (not psychologists), enabling broader accessibility of distress treatment.
• Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme Eye screening programme using portable fundus cameras to detect diabetic retinopathy, taking the cameras to remote Greenlandic settlements where patients previously had to travel days for routine eye examinations. Images are analysed remotely by ophthalmology nurses.
• Fusion Clinic for Integrated Diabetes and Mental Illness Care Integrated treatment clinic at Steno Diabetes Center Zealand where people with diabetes and concurrent mental illness can access combined treatment and support for both conditions under one roof, based on the FACT model. Demonstrated a 32% drop in hospitalisation days.
• Tingbjerg Health Promotion Initiative Research-based community health promotion initiative in the Tingbjerg district of Copenhagen targeting socially vulnerable populations through health networks, Nordic walking groups, community gardens, early detection schemes, and diabetes support. Brought local type 2 diabetes diagnoses down to the national average.
• Needs-Based Appointment System Patient-led appointment system introduced by Steno Diabetes Center Odense where patients are invited to call and make appointments when needed rather than having fixed scheduled times, empowering patients and freeing clinical resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hospital stays for newly diagnosed type-1 diabetes patients reduced from 4 days (2018) to 2 days average (2023); 35% of newly diagnosed patients not hospitalized at all
• +7 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Antaros MedicalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Featured as a speaker organization in an Xtalks-hosted webinar on muscle composition assessment in clinical trials for obesity and metabolic disease research.
• Profil (research organization)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Featured as a speaker organization in an Xtalks-hosted webinar on muscle composition assessment in clinical trials for obesity and metabolic disease research.
• Government of GreenlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding partner for Steno Diabetes Center Greenland. Provides ongoing funding for existing healthcare services within diabetes, COPD, and hypertension. Collaborates on long-term initiative to strengthen prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases.
• Government of the Faroe Islands (Heilsumálaráðiráð)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding partner for Steno Diabetes Center Faroe Islands. Funds existing diabetes and endocrine care activities. Collaborates on long-term initiative to strengthen treatment and research in the Faroe Islands.
• Capital Region of DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional authority that owns and operates Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. Funds day-to-day operations of the centre. Collaborated with Novo Nordisk Foundation to establish the centre.
• Regional Health Authorities (Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive regional authorities in Denmark (Capital Region, Region of Southern Denmark, Central Denmark Region, North Denmark Region, Region Zealand) operate the Steno Diabetes Centers in their respective regions, funding ongoing operations and standard treatments.
• Capital Region of DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTook over ownership of the original Steno Diabetes Center from Novo Nordisk A/S in 2017 as part of establishing Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. Provides ongoing operational funding for the centre.
• Hospitals (Aarhus University Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Aalborg University Hospital, Herlev Hospital, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospitals hosting or adjacent to Steno Diabetes Centers. Enable integrated care pathways, 24-hour coverage, and collaboration on treatment and research.
• General Practitioners and MunicipalitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary care providers and local government health services collaborating with Steno Centers on intersectoral care coordination, early detection, prevention, and patient education programs.
• Universities (University of Greenland, Danish universities)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partners collaborating on research initiatives, including the Genetic Biobank of the Faroe Islands and FarGen genome project, and Arctic-based research communities.
• Social Housing Associations and Local OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partners in health promotion initiatives such as the Tingbjerg project in Copenhagen, working together on research-based interventions to reduce diabetes incidence in vulnerable populations.
• Danish Health Data AuthoritymajorTechnology or IntegrationSAMBLIK platform is based on national health data infrastructure and is being integrated into the Danish national health IT infrastructure for cross-sector data sharing.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Diabetes Center (IDC, Park Nicollet): US-based diabetes specialty center combining clinical care, research, and professional education (founder of the DCCT/EDIC study). Comparable to Steno in combining research with direct patient treatment and protocol development.
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute: Australian medical research institute focused on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, integrating clinical care with translational research. Operates as a specialty center on a comparable model to Steno's research-plus-treatment approach.
• Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes: University of Colorado-affiliated center specializing in type 1 diabetes care, research, and education for children and adults. Direct peer in the model of a single-disease specialty center with significant research output.
• Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at University of Miami: One of the largest stand-alone diabetes research and treatment centers in the US, focused on a cure for diabetes. Comparable in scale and mission alignment with Steno's research-driven treatment model.
• Joslin Diabetes Center: Affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a leading specialty diabetes treatment, research, and education center in Boston. Directly comparable to Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen as a world-class integrated research-and-care institution focused exclusively on diabetes.

Broad incumbents

• Karolinska University Hospital (Endocrinology): Major Nordic academic hospital with a leading endocrinology and diabetes department. Comparable to Steno as a northern-European provider of advanced diabetes care within a broader hospital portfolio.
• Aarhus University Hospital: Largest hospital in the Central Denmark Region and host to Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus. Provides the broader inpatient and specialty infrastructure that Steno's outpatient center operates alongside.
• Herlev Hospital: Capital Region of Denmark hospital where Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen is co-located. Provides 24-hour coverage and specialty back-up for Steno's outpatient and research operations.

Others

• Diabetes UK: Leading UK charity funding diabetes research, education, and advocacy. Thematically related to Steno's research and prevention mission but operates as a fundraising/grantmaking nonprofit rather than a care provider.
• International Diabetes Federation (IDF): Umbrella organization of over 230 national diabetes associations across 170 countries. Comparable as a global convening body for diabetes policy, research, and education rather than as a direct care competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steno-diabetes-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steno Diabetes Center