Novo Nordisk has launched an international survey to identify the impact of diabetes. The company expects the survey, which is called DAWN (diabetes attitudes, wishes and needs), to be a useful tool for anyone involved with managing diabetes. It is expected to explore the relationships that exist between people with diabetes and health professionals, between different health professionals, and with policy-makers who allocate resources to the disease. It is being conducted in two stages. The first stage, which will be completed by the end of the year, is a qualitative pilot survey which is expected to provide information on patient motivation and barriers to compliance. There will then be a main survey in Britain, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Australia, Scandinavia and the United States. The results are expected in the autumn of 2001.