Steno Diabetes Center Odense

What Steno Diabetes Center Odense does

Steno Diabetes Center Odense (SDCO) is a publicly owned regional diabetes center established on 1 January 2018 in Odense, Denmark, and operated by Region Syddanmark. It delivers specialized diabetes treatment, prevention, patient education, and clinical research to the approximately 80,000 people living with diabetes in the Region Syddanmark catchment area, with roughly 9,000 patients attached to its outpatient services. The center operates as one of five Steno Diabetes Centers in Denmark plus affiliated programs in Greenland and the Faroe Islands, holding formal Steno Partner agreements with three regional hospitals and coordinating with municipalities and general practice.

SDCO's core research asset is the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2), a national biobank and cohort platform holding 250,000 blood samples from 10,000 type 2 diabetes patients and currently supporting more than 70 active research projects. Its service portfolio includes clinical care, the proprietary Lev Livet patient education concept (which has been adapted for patients with KOL and cardiovascular disease), and digital tools spanning patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires, telemedicine consultations, and e-learning courses for patients and healthcare professionals. In 2025 the center moved into a new 20,000 m² purpose-built facility at Nyt Odense University Hospital (Nyt OUH).

The business model is non-commercial and publicly funded. SDCO's primary capital base is a 10-year grant of 1.4 billion DKK from Novo Nordisk Fonden awarded at founding in 2018, supplemented by operating support from Region Syddanmark as owner. There is no direct pricing or revenue model in the commercial sense; "customers" in the form of patients, clinicians, municipalities, and general practice receive services either free at the point of use (public healthcare) or through public-sector agreements.

Name

Steno Diabetes Center Odense

Legal name

Steno Diabetes Center Odense

Website

https://sdco.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Steno Diabetes Center Odense is a publicly owned regional diabetes center in Odense, Denmark, established in 2018 by Region Syddanmark with a 10-year Novo Nordisk Fonden grant. It provides treatment, research, education, and prevention services to approximately 80,000 people with diabetes in the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialized Diabetes Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Site Data Management Support (EDC/Source/SDV Readiness) (HLAGACAL)

Keywords

• Diabetes treatment services
• Diabetes research
• Patient education programs
• Digital health tools
• Healthcare competence development

Headquarters

HQ city

Odense

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Regional Healthcare Funding: SDCO is operated and owned by Region Syddanmark as part of the public healthcare system, receiving government funding for diabetes treatment, education, research, and prevention services.
2. Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant: 10-year grant of 1.4 billion DKK from Novo Nordisk Fonden for new initiatives in diabetes care in Region Syddanmark and new physical facilities at Nyt OUH.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Steno Diabetes Center Odense (SDCO) is a regional diabetes center providing comprehensive diabetes treatment (type 1, type 2, gestational, pediatric), patient education programs, professional competence development for healthcare staff, and clinical research including the DD2 national type 2 diabetes biobank. The center delivers services through outpatient clinics, partner hospitals, municipalities, and general practice across Region Syddanmark, supplemented by digital health tools and telemedicine.

Product overview

Steno Diabetes Center Odense (SDCO) is a regional diabetes center offering comprehensive diabetes healthcare services, not a traditional software product company. The center provides diabetes treatment across multiple hospitals in Region Syddanmark, along with a portfolio of digital health tools including Alt om Diabetes (a diabetes knowledge platform), MineAftaler (appointment management), PRO-Diabetesspørgeskema (patient-reported outcomes), and Sten-O Starter (for children). SDCO also offers patient education programs such as Lev Livet, e-learning courses, same-day screening services, and conversation cards for patient engagement. The center integrates various health technologies including apps for patient journey management ('Mit forløb') and carbohydrate counting, while conducting clinical research through initiatives like DD2 (Danish Center for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DD2 - Dansk Center for Strategisk Forskning i Type 2-Diabetes: A national research center for type 2 diabetes, housed within SDCO, collecting data and biological samples for research.
• Syddansk Diabetesdag
• Lev Livet

Products and services

• Diabetesbehandling (Diabetes Treatment Services) Core diabetes treatment services covering type 1, type 2, gestational, and pediatric diabetes, including medical care, diabetes technology support (insulin pumps and sensors), psychological support, nutritional counseling, and same-day multi-complication screening. Delivered at multiple hospital sites in Region Syddanmark.
• Livet med diabetes (Living with Diabetes Support) Comprehensive support services for people living with diabetes, including help with mental well-being, dietary guidance, financial support, workplace accommodations, support for children and youth with diabetes, and access to peer support and user ambassadors.
• Lev Livet (Patient Education Program) A patient education concept/program for people with type 2 diabetes, developed in collaboration with municipalities to support self-management of diabetes. Adapted for KOL and cardiovascular disease.
• Sammedagsscreening (Same-day Screening Service) Same-day screening service allowing patients to receive multiple screenings and tests in a single visit, including eye screenings, foot examinations, and other diabetes complication assessments.
• E-læringskurser (E-learning Courses) E-learning courses covering various aspects of diabetes treatment, nutrition, and care for healthcare professionals and patients.
• Alt om Diabetes (About Diabetes Platform) A digital platform providing diabetes knowledge and information directly accessible to patients and the public, described as 'diabetesviden lige ved hånden' (diabetes knowledge at hand).
• MineAftaler (My Appointments) A digital tool allowing patients to manage their appointments related to diabetes treatment and care.
• PRO-Diabetesspørgeskema (PRO-Diabetes Questionnaire) A Patient-Reported Outcome questionnaire used to collect patient-reported information about their diabetes experience and treatment outcomes.
• Sten-O Starter A digital support tool designed for children with diabetes and their families, helping them get started with managing diabetes.
• Vi taler sammen - Samtalekort om diabetes (Conversation Cards) Conversation cards designed to facilitate dialogue about living with diabetes, usable in homes, schools, and healthcare settings for ages 8-10 and up.
• DD2 - Dansk Center for Strategisk Forskning i Type 2-Diabetes A national research center for type 2 diabetes, housed within SDCO, collecting data and biological samples for research. Includes the DD2 biobank with approximately 250,000 blood samples and data from 10,000 type 2 diabetes patients, used in 70+ research projects.
• Mit forløb (My Patient Journey Application) A digital application mentioned in the context of new health technology used in patient care at SDCO, supporting patient journey management.
• Kulhydrattælling (Carbohydrate Counting Application) A carbohydrate counting application used at SDCO for diabetes self-management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in blindness among people with diabetes over 20 years due to national eye screening program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DD2 (Dansk Center for Strategisk Forskning i Type 2-diabetes)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2018DD2 is a national research project funded by Novo Nordisk Fonden via SDCO. It collects data and blood samples for type 2 diabetes research. DD2 has partnered with Regionernes Bio- og GenomBank (RBGB) to establish a national diabetes biobank.
• Sygehus Lillebælt (Hospital Lillebælt)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2018Steno Partner agreement covering hospitals in Kolding and Vejle. Each partner receives 1.25 million DKK annually and participates in the Steno Partner Forum for knowledge sharing and coordination of diabetes care across the region.
• Sygehus Sønderjylland (Hospital Southern Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2018Steno Partner agreement covering hospitals in Aabenraa, Sønderborg, and Tønder. Each partner receives 1.25 million DKK annually and participates in the Steno Partner Forum for knowledge sharing and coordination of diabetes care across the region.
• Sydvestjysk Sygehus (Southwest Jutland Hospital)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2018Steno Partner agreement covering hospitals in Esbjerg and Grindsted. Each partner receives 1.25 million DKK annually and participates in the Steno Partner Forum for knowledge sharing and coordination of diabetes care across the region.
• Other Steno Diabetes Centres (National Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDCO is part of a national network of five regional Steno Diabetes Centres in Denmark, plus one in Greenland and one in Faroe Islands. Collaboration includes Steno Collaborative Grants for joint research projects and shared learning.
• Syddansk Sundhedsinnovation (SDSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health technology projects including competence development for healthcare professionals in using digital tools and technology for diabetes patients.
• Regionernes Bio- og GenomBank (RBGB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational biobank collaboration to establish the first chronic disease biobank in Denmark for diabetes research. RBGB ensures samples are processed nationwide, enabling a comprehensive national dataset for DD2 research.
• Syddansk Universitet (SDU) - University of Southern DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with SDU including joint research units, PhD programs, and clinical professor positions. Dorte Møller Jensen holds a clinical professorship at SDU in pregnancy, diabetes and obesity.
• Danish Regioner (Danish Regions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Danish Regions to implement DD2 enrollment across all regions, with all general practitioners able to offer newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients participation in the research project.
• Municipalities in Region SyddanmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sectoral collaboration with 22 municipalities for competence development, local diabetes committees, prevention programs, and support for citizens with diabetes in community settings.
• General Practice (Almen Praksis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with general practitioners across Region Syddanmark for quality improvement, competence training, clinical guidelines, and coordination of primary diabetes care.
• Aabenraa MunicipalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTestimonial municipality partner for SDCO's role as development partner in diabetes, chronic disease, and prevention initiatives.
• Danske Fodterapeuter (Danish Podiatrists)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on foot status examinations for patients with diabetes and referral guidelines for podiatry services to prevent foot ulcers and amputations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Joslin Diabetes Center: Harvard-affiliated U.S. diabetes research and clinical care center combining treatment, education, and research under one organization. Comparable integrated model and reputation as a global diabetes thought leader.
• German Diabetes Center (DDZ): National German Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research in Düsseldorf, integrating clinical research, patient care, and epidemiology for type 2 diabetes. Comparable scope and academic-clinical hybrid structure.

Direct peers

• Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus: Regional Steno Diabetes Centre serving Central Denmark Region with the same Novo Nordisk Foundation grant structure, integrated treatment-research-education model, and public ownership profile as SDCO.
• Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen: One of the five regional Steno Diabetes Centres in Denmark operated under the same Novo Nordisk Foundation funding framework. Directly comparable mission, governance, and service model in the Capital Region.
• Steno Diabetes Center Faroe Islands: Sister Steno center serving the Faroe Islands with comparable integrated diabetes care, treatment, and prevention focus, funded through the same Novo Nordisk Foundation program.
• Steno Diabetes Center Greenland: Part of the same Steno network as SDCO; a regional diabetes center with combined clinical, research, and education functions, operating in a different geography (Greenland) under the same Foundation umbrella.

Others

• Diabetesforeningen (Danish Diabetes Association): National Danish patient advocacy organization that awards SDCO (Diabetesforeningens Handlingspris 2022 and 2024). Closely aligned mission around diabetes prevention, patient support, and advocacy.
• Odense University Hospital (OUH): The parent university hospital where SDCO is physically located and operationally integrated. Shares staff, infrastructure, and patients with SDCO and hosts the Nyt OUH diabetes center facility.
• DD2 (Danish Center for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes): National type 2 diabetes research initiative housed within SDCO and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation via SDCO. Operates the biobank (250,000 samples, 10,000 patients) and feeds research outputs across the Steno network.

Regional players

• Karolinska Institutet Diabetes Research Group: Leading Swedish academic diabetes research and clinical group embedded in a public university hospital system. Comparable Nordic public-sector academic diabetes focus but operating in Sweden rather than Denmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDCOdense
• Facebookfacebook.com/StenoDiabetesCenterOdense
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steno-diabetes-center-odense

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Steno Diabetes Center Odense