Diabetesforeningen

What Diabetesforeningen does

Diabetesforeningen is a Danish nonprofit patient membership association founded in 1940 and headquartered in Glostrup, Denmark. It serves as the national voice and primary support organization for people living with diabetes in Denmark, addressing an addressable population of approximately 384,600 diagnosed individuals (roughly 36,000 with Type 1 and 348,500 with Type 2), an estimated 500,000 people with prediabetes, and 100,000 undiagnosed Type 2 cases. The organization employs 137 people and is led by CEO Claus Richter and Chairman Jørgen Andersen.

The organization's product portfolio spans digital tools (the Kulhydrattælleren carbohydrate-counting mobile app, the Diabetestal.nu blood-sugar tracking platform, and a Thinkific-hosted online education platform), physical outreach (the Sundhedsbus mobile health screening unit and a festival diabetes bracelet initiative), member services (webinars, camps, advocacy), a Fordelsklub benefits club with 500+ corporate partner offers, a Netbutik online shop, and a lottery/scratch ticket operation that redistributes over 4M DKK to clubs and schools. Research funding was deployed as 600,000 DKK across three grants in 2023, with disbursements scheduled to pause in 2026 and resume in 2027.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: five membership tiers priced 270–545 DKK annually, lottery proceeds, monthly donor programs, bequests, online retail, and corporate partnerships with entities including Novo Nordisk, GF Forsikring, Thiele, Loop, ReaMed, and OneMed. The organization maintains international advocacy engagement through the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), including collaboration on the DAWN2 study.

Name

Diabetesforeningen

Legal name

Diabetesforeningen

Website

https://diabetes.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Diabetesforeningen is a Danish nonprofit patient membership association founded in 1940 that serves approximately 384,600 Danes with diabetes through membership services, education, advocacy, research grants, and a 500+ partner benefits club.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Disease Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAA

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGACAC

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYHLAKADAA

Diabetes (General)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Endocrinology & Diabetes

SECONDARYHSABACAJ

Diabetes Education & Insulin Management (Home-Based)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Skilled Nursing & Clinical Home Health

Keywords

• Diabetes research funding
• Diabetes patient advocacy
• Patient membership organization
• Chronic disease support services
• Diabetes health education

Headquarters

HQ city

Glostrup

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees ranging from 270-545 DKK depending on membership type (personal, pensionist, youth, family)
2. Lottery and Scratch Tickets: Sale of scratch lottery tickets where sellers earn 20 DKK per ticket sold, with clubs, schools and associations earning over 4 million DKK annually
3. Netbutik (Online Shop): Sale of merchandise including cookbooks, manuals, brochures, exercise equipment, and diabetes support products with member discounts
4. Donations and Bequests: Individual contributions and testamentary donations. The association offers up to 5,000 DKK testamentary grant to individuals who donate to the association
5. Diabeteshelt (Monthly Donor Program): Monthly recurring donations where supporters commit to regular contributions
6. Corporate Partnerships: Business partnerships where companies join the diabetes campaign through various engagement programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Diabetesforeningen is Denmark's primary nonprofit patient association for people with diabetes, providing tiered memberships, expert advisory services (Diabetesrådgiverne) staffed by 10 professional groups, educational resources including webinars and the free Kulhydrattælleren app, community programs (camps, motivation groups, local associations), research grants (Forskningslegater) selected by member panels, and advocacy for diabetes policy and technology access. The association also operates an online shop (Netbutik), a Fordelsklub benefits club with 500+ partner discounts, and a fundraising lottery.

Product overview

Diabetesforeningen is a Danish patient organization offering a comprehensive suite of services for people with diabetes. The core offerings include membership programs (personal, pensionist, youth, and family memberships), the Diabetesrådgiverne advisory service staffed by 10 professional groups, and educational resources including webinars and online courses. Key products include the free Kulhydrattælleren app for carbohydrate counting, the Netbutik online shop selling cookbooks and diabetes supplies, and Diabetestal.nu statistics dashboard. The organization provides research funding through Forskningslegater and travel grants, organizes camps and weekend courses for children, youth and adults, and advocates for diabetes technology access. The Fordelsklub benefits program offers discounts with over 500 partners, while the online education platform and volunteer toolbox support community engagement. Fundraising activities include lottery and scratch-off ticket sales, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kulhydrattælleren: Gratis app til kulhydrattælling (Free carbohydrate counting app)
• Diabetesrådgiverne
• Diabetesforeningens Onlineundervisning

Products and services

• Medlemskab (Membership) Annual membership providing access to Diabetesrådgiverne expert advisory, the 'Diabetes' member magazine, the 'DiabetesLiv' newsletter, the Fordelsklub benefits club with 500+ partner discounts, and a member shop discount. Targeted at adults with diabetes, pensionists, youth aged 18-30, and families with children with diabetes in Denmark.
• Diabetesrådgiverne (Diabetes Advisors) Expert advisory service staffed by 10 professional groups including dietitians, social workers, nurses, and child/youth consultants, offering free guidance on diabetes management, social rights, and support. Available to members and the broader diabetes community in Denmark.
• Kulhydrattælleren (Carbohydrate Counter App) Free smartphone app for counting carbohydrates in meals, helping people with diabetes manage their carbohydrate intake and blood sugar levels. Available to anyone with diabetes.
• Netbutik (Online Shop) Online shop selling cookbooks, handbooks, pamphlets, exercise equipment, and diabetes support products, with member discounts. Proceeds support the diabetes cause.
• Webinarer (Webinars) Online seminars providing knowledge and tools for daily life with diabetes, covering topics like technology, nutrition, mental health, and exercise. Available live or as recordings to people with diabetes and their families.
• Fordelsklub (Benefits Club) Member benefits program offering discounts at over 500 selected companies including travel, insurance, electronics, and more. Available to Diabetesforeningen members.
• Forskningslegater (Research Grants) Research grants awarded to Danish researchers studying diabetes, with 600,000 DKK awards to younger researchers for research positions or postdoc co-financing. Selection is done annually by a user panel of association members.
• Diabetestal.nu (Diabetes Statistics Dashboard) Public statistics dashboard presenting diabetes treatment data and population-level statistics across Danish regions, with updated figures on diabetes prevalence and outcomes. Available to the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
• Lotteri og Skrabelodder (Lottery and Scratch-off Tickets) Fundraising lottery where volunteers earn 20 DKK per sold ticket, with clubs, schools, and associations raising over 4 million DKK annually for the diabetes cause. Sold throughout Denmark via a volunteer distribution network.
• Risk Test (Risikotest) Online risk assessment tool taking approximately 2 minutes to help people identify their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Free to use for the general public in Denmark.
• Onlineundervisning (Online Education Platform) Online courses hosted on the Thinkific platform providing training for volunteers in Diabetesforeningen, covering organizational tasks and responsibilities.
• Camps og Weekendkurser (Camps and Weekend Courses) Annual program of diabetes camps and weekend courses for 2026, including FamilyCamp (0-11 years), DiabetesCamp (10-13 and 14-17 years), and courses for adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, plus walking groups and church concerts. Available to members and their families.
• Diabetesteknologi (Diabetes Technology Guidance) Information and guidance service on diabetes technology including blood sugar meters, sensors (CGM/FGM), insulin pumps, and insulin pens, with details on subsidies and how to apply for equipment. Available to people with diabetes and their families.
• Rejselegater (Travel Grants) Annual grants awarded by Diabetesforeningen to PhD students who wish to study abroad for diabetes-related research.
• Startkit (School/Daycare Kit) Materials for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes to facilitate collaboration with schools and daycares, including posters, guidelines, and cooperation agreements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ health bus tests conducted nationwide for early Type 2 diabetes detection
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Diabetes Federation (IDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal diabetes advocacy organization co-leading the DAWN2 international research study on diabetes psychosocial impacts.
• GF ForsikringminorOthersInsurance company offering discounts to Diabetesforeningen members through the benefits club (Fordelsklub).
• ThieleminorOthersRetail partner offering discounts to Diabetesforeningen members through the benefits club (Fordelsklub).
• LoopminorOthersRetail partner offering discounts to Diabetesforeningen members through the benefits club (Fordelsklub).
• ReaMedminorOthersOnline medical equipment retailer referenced as an option for purchasing diabetes sensors and equipment when public funding is not available.
• OneMedminorOthersOnline medical equipment retailer referenced as an option for purchasing diabetes sensors and equipment when public funding is not available.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diabetes UK: The UK's leading diabetes charity, similarly structured as a membership-based patient organization providing information, support, research funding, advocacy, and community services for people with diabetes. Most structurally comparable peer given the parallel national scope and broad service portfolio.
• American Diabetes Association: The largest national diabetes nonprofit in the US, focused on research funding, advocacy, information dissemination, and patient support. Comparable in mission, scale of programs (research grants, advocacy, professional resources), and revenue model mix of memberships, donations, and corporate partnerships.
• Diabetes Canada: Canada's primary diabetes charity offering research funding, advocacy, education, and member services. Closely parallels Diabetesforeningen in offering expert advisory resources, grassroots community networks, and nationally coordinated advocacy on diabetes care policy.
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF / Breakthrough T1D): Global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization with national affiliates. Highly comparable on the Type 1 segment Diabetesforeningen serves (36,000 Danes), with overlapping programs in research grants, peer support, and technology advocacy.
• Diabetes Australia: Australia's peak national diabetes body, providing research funding, advocacy, education, and member services. Highly comparable in mission, service mix (advisory lines, camps, grants), and reliance on a mix of donations, retail, and corporate partnerships.
• Svenska Diabetesförbundet (Swedish Diabetes Association): Sweden's national diabetes patient association — the closest geographic and Nordic-model peer to Diabetesforeningen, with comparable services (memberships, magazine, advocacy, research funding, local associations) in a neighboring Scandinavian market.
• Diabetesforbundet (Norwegian Diabetes Association): Norway's main diabetes patient organization, operating with similar Nordic welfare-state context and providing member services, information, advocacy, and local associations. Closely comparable in scale, governance, and program mix to Diabetesforeningen.

Broad incumbents

• International Diabetes Federation (IDF): Global umbrella organization coordinating national diabetes associations. Diabetesforeningen is already an active IDF partner through the DAWN2 study, and IDF's broader global research and policy work parallels Diabetesforeningen's national advocacy and statistics (Diabetestal.nu) functions.

Regional players

• Deutscher Diabetiker Bund (German Diabetes Federation): Germany's national diabetes patient federation. Comparable in mission and service scope (advocacy, information, local groups) but operates in a much larger market and does not directly compete in Denmark — making it a regional European parallel rather than a head-to-head competitor.

Others

• Novo Nordisk Foundation: Major Danish philanthropic foundation with deep ties to diabetes research and a stated funder relationship with Diabetesforeningen. Included because it is a critical ecosystem partner and a potential alternative funding source for diabetes research and advocacy initiatives in Denmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Diabetesforeningen