Sidekick
Digital Hub
For Healthcare Proffessionals
Purpose of the program
The program is a collaboration between Sidekick Health and Novo Nordisk to support patients with Type 2 Diabetes who are treated with Rybelsus® (semaglutide) or Ozempic® (semaglutide).
The program aims to improve medication adherence, help patients manage side effects, and build sustainable healthy habits.
By combining expert guidance from doctors, psychologists, and behavioral scientists, the program empowers patients to feel confident and in control of their treatment journey.
With daily education, medication reminders, injection support (for Ozempic patients only) and tracking tools, the program encourages adherence while promoting sustainable, healthy habits that fit seamlessly into daily life.
Additionally, the program offers accessible guidance to help patients effectively manage potential side effects, supporting long-term health and self-efficacy.
Key features
Daily Missions:
Patients are presented with new daily missions on the home screen of the Sidekick app. The missions include reminders, challenges, and educational content designed to help patients gradually improve their health habits. From increasing step count to managing stress, the daily missions offer patients a structured way to stay engaged with their health goals, providing both motivation and actionable steps to build positive behavioral routines.
Health Journal:
The app’s Health Journal allows patients to track their symptoms, monitor changes, and identify patterns over time. By logging their health data, patients gain insights into their diabetes management and overall well-being. It is also possible to generate exportable reports from the Health Journal, so patients can easily share valuable information with their healthcare providers for more informed, personalized treatment plans.
On-Demand Education:
The Sidekick app features a comprehensive library of science-backed educational content covering essential topics like diabetes management, nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and mental well-being.
This on-demand content empowers patients with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health and develop sustainable habits that support long-term well-being.
Medication Reminders:
Personalized medication reminders encourage patients to stay consistent with their Rybelsus® or Ozempic® treatment. These reminders are seamlessly integrated with lifestyle tracking features, offering patients insights into how their medication use and lifestyle choices impact their overall health, helping them stay on track with their treatment and optimize their outcomes.
Motivational Coaching:
To keep patients motivated and engaged, the Sidekick app includes secure two-way messaging that connects them with a live coach. These coaches provide personalized support, offering encouragement, guidance, and advice to help patients overcome challenges, stay committed to their health goals, and maintain a sense of progress and empowerment throughout their journey. While Sidekick coaches offer support throughout the program, they do not provide medical advice.
Self-injection support:
For Ozempic patients only, the program offers comprehensive support for the unique challenges of self-injection therapy. Easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions are provided in a friendly and animated way, helping patients better understand the injection process and reduce injection errors. In addition, content and behavior change tactics are introduced throughout the program to support pain points like fear of needles, injection-related anxiety, and building a long-term injection routine.
Sidekicks approach
Sidekick Health takes an innovative approach to support patients by combining behavioral economics, gamification, and evidence-based clinical practices. Sidekick’s programs help individuals build sustainable, life-long healthy habits while empowering them to self-manage their health.
By integrating tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles and game design, the app delivers a unique, engaging user experience that promotes lasting behavior change.
Sidekick’s digital health solutions complement traditional medical care, addressing critical gaps by providing on-demand, personalized support tailored to each patient’s needs. With cutting-edge technology and altruistic rewards,
Sidekick transforms chronic condition management into an empowering and accessible journey for all users.
Overview of GLP-1 therapy
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of medications that play a significant role in managing type 2 diabetes.
These drugs mimic the action of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone, which enhances insulin secretion in response to meals, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric emptying and acts on the brain to regulate appetite. By doing so, GLP-1 agonists help lower blood sugar levels, reduce hunger and promote a feeling of fullness, which can lead to clinically significant loss.
This dual effect is particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes, as it addresses both hyperglycemia and obesity—common challenges in diabetes management.
Challenges in GLP-1 adherence
Adhering to GLP-1 therapy can be challenging for patients. Some GLP-1 treatments requires a specific intake routine— such as taking it on an empty stomach, at a specific time of day, with precise breaks in between eating, drinking, and taking other medications. This schedule can be difficult for patients managing busy lives or multiple comorbidities that necessitate other medications.
Common side effects of GLP-1 therapy may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. These side effects are often experienced by patients particularly when increasing the dose of the medication. These side effects are usually transient and can be managed with the right support, particularly with regards to nutrition behaviors (Gorgojo-Martinez et al. 2022)1. However, many patients navigate these challenges alone, compromising long-term use.
Taking on GLP-1 at home without the right support can be burdensome for patients and increase the risk of poor adherence and discontinuation (Sharma et al. 2025)2. These uncomfortable side effects and uncertainties regarding lifestyle adjustments can make the treatment experience frustrating and unpleasant. These challenges highlight the importance of tailored support to help patients integrate GLP-1 therapy into their daily lives and maintain long-term success.
How Sidekick helps
The Sidekick program is designed to transform what is often an unpleasant treatment experience into an empowering one. This is achieved by addressing the key challenges patients face with GLP-1 therapy, by providing a comprehensive and personalized support system.
To help manage treatment expectations patients are educated on how their therapy works and what to expect regarding the changes of the biomarkers of Type 2 Diabetes and body weight. For common side effects like nausea, the app offers on-demand educational content that empowers patients with practical strategies to mitigate discomfort and stay on track.
Daily missions guide users through structured tasks that encourage healthy habits that matter for patients prescribed GLP-1. This includes nutrition tips to manage side effects, stress management and physical activity.
The Health Journal enables patients to log and track symptoms, offering insights into patterns and treatment effects that can be shared with healthcare providers for personalized care adjustments.
Personalized medication reminders ensure patients adhere to the Rybelsus® or Ozempic® specific intake schedule, while motivational coaching provides emotional support to help users overcome frustrations and sustain their efforts.
Self-injection instructions, injection site tracking, and personalized content help Ozempic patients cope with the unique challenges of self-injection therapy.
By integrating gamification, behavioral science, and evidence-based practices, Sidekick creates an engaging and empowering experience that helps patients navigate the challenges of GLP-1 therapy and achieve better health outcomes.
Onboarding steps:
Getting started with the Sidekick app is easy. Patients can follow these steps to download the program:
- QR code option:
Patients can scan the QR code provided on the patient flyer to access the app download page. - App Store option:
Patients can search for "Sidekick Health" in their device’s App Store (available for both iOS and Android). After downloading the app, they will need to open it and follow the prompts.
Enter the Program PIN:
If prompted, patients should enter the program-specific PIN featured on the patient flyer provided by the pharmacist. This access code will allow them to join the Sidekick program and unlock its features.
Why pharmacists are key
Pharmacists play a pivotal role in supporting patients with type 2 diabetes, as they are often the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals for guidance on treatment.
By introducing the Sidekick program alongside Rybelsus® or Ozempic®, pharmacists can enhance their role as patient advocates, providing tools that increase confidence, improve medication adherence, and support overall treatment success.
The program equips pharmacists with a valuable resource to address common patient concerns, such as managing side effects or adhering to the Rybelsus® or Ozempic® specific intake routine, while reinforcing healthy lifestyle changes.
This partnership not only strengthens the pharmacist-patient relationship but also empowers pharmacists to deliver personalized care that complements traditional medical treatment and helps achieve better long-term outcomes.
Pharmacists play a pivotal role in supporting patients with type 2 diabetes, as they are often the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals for guidance on treatment.
By introducing the Sidekick program alongside Rybelsus® or Ozempic®, pharmacists can enhance their role as patient advocates, providing tools that increase confidence, improve medication adherence, and support overall treatment success.
The program equips pharmacists with a valuable resource to address common patient concerns, such as managing side effects or adhering to the Rybelsus® or Ozempic® specific intake routine, while reinforcing healthy lifestyle changes.
This partnership not only strengthens the pharmacist-patient relationship but also empowers pharmacists to deliver personalized care that complements traditional medical treatment and helps achieve better long-term outcomes.
How pharmacists benefit
The Sidekick program offers pharmacists a powerful tool to empower patients to take an active role in managing their type 2 diabetes, ultimately reducing the burden of follow-up questions related to side effects and adherence.
By providing patients with structured daily guidance, medication reminders, and on-demand educational content, the program addresses common concerns before they arise, freeing up pharmacists to focus on more complex clinical needs.
Talking points for pharmacists
Pharmacists play a crucial role in helping patients succeed with Rybelsus® or Ozempic® by introducing them to the Sidekick program. This digital support tool helps patients build healthy habits, stay consistent with their medication, and manage potential side effects—all within an easy-to-use app.
Key points to share with patients:
- What is Sidekick? A free app designed to support patients taking Rybelsus® or Ozempic®, offering medication reminders, symptom tracking, and daily health tips.
- How does it help? It provides small, manageable tasks to build positive habits around treatment, covering nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and mental well-being.
- How to get started? Patients can scan the QR code on the flyer provided or use an access code to download and set up the app. Once signed in, they receive personalized tools to track their health and improve adherence.
- Privacy and security: The Sidekick app keeps patient information encrypted, with no data shared with third parties.
Conversation Starters:
- “This app can help you stay consistent with your treatment.”
- “You'll find science-backed tips to support your health journey.”
- “You can choose the topics that matter most to you—nutrition, staying active, or improving sleep.”
- “You can get support with self injection and also track your injections.”
Encouraging patients to use Sidekick can help them feel more confident and in control of their diabetes management while making their Rybelsus® or Ozempic® treatment journey smoother.
Key benefits
The Sidekick program offers patients a comprehensive support system to improve their type 2 diabetes management and overall well-being.
Daily Missions: Bite-sized tasks that guide patients in building sustainable healthy habits, one step at a time.
Medication Reminders: Personalized alerts encourage patients to stay consistent with their Rybelsus® or Ozempic® treatment routine.
Symptom Tracking: Tools to log symptoms and monitor trends over time, offering insights into health progress that can be shared with healthcare providers.
Educational Content: A library of science-backed resources covering key topics like nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and mental well-being, empowering patients to make informed lifestyle choices.
Motivational Coaching: Coaches do not provide medical advice but offer personalized support through live coaching to keep patients engaged, motivated, and confident in managing their treatment and overall health.
Self-injection support: For Ozempic patients only, the app provides step-by-step guidance through the injection process is provided alongside specific content to support pain points like fear of needles, injection-related anxiety, and building a long-term injection routine.
Together, these features create a holistic approach to diabetes care, helping patients feel supported and in control of their treatment.
Patient outcomes
The Sidekick program can lead to improvements in patient outcomes by fostering increased confidence, self-efficacy, and a better overall health-related quality of life.
Building healthy habits: By offering tasks that seamlessly integrate into daily routines, patients are empowered to build sustainable habits that support long-term health.
Medication consistency: Medication reminders and symptom tracking encourage patients to stay consistent with Rybelsus® or Ozempic®.
Empowerment: Science-backed educational content on sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being allows patients to learn at their own pace, ensuring they can make informed lifestyle choices.
Motivation: Secure messaging with a coach keeps patients engaged and encouraged, reinforcing their commitment to treatment.
Ultimately, the program helps patients feel in control of their health, improving adherence, self-management, and overall confidence in their diabetes journey.
Common questions
Address common questions or concerns about privacy, technology, and setup.
Sidekick takes privacy and data security seriously, ensuring all user information is handled with the utmost care. The app is fully GDPR and HIPAA compliant, reflecting a strong commitment to protecting users’ health data.
During onboarding, patients provide in-app consent for Sidekick to process, anonymize, and store their data securely. All information is encrypted and securely stored, and no personally identifiable data is ever shared with third parties, including program partners.
Patients can trust that their data is safeguarded and used solely to enhance their health journey while maintaining the highest privacy standards.
Sidekick is committed to maintaining the highest privacy and data security standards, ensuring patients’ information is protected at all times. The program fully complies with GDPR and other applicable data security regulations.
All patient data is encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption, both in transit and at rest, and securely stored within the EU/EEA. Personally identifiable information is never shared or sold to third parties, including Sidekick's program partners.
The app limits the type of data patients can enter, such as activity logs, step data from connected devices, and uploaded photos, to ensure privacy is respected. Access to this data is strictly controlled and limited to Sidekick employees whose roles require it, based on a rigorous assessment of their job function.
Additionally, any personally identifiable data is deleted after two years of inactivity to safeguard patient information further. Patients can trust Sidekick to provide a secure and private platform to support their health journey.
The Sidekick app is designed with all patients in mind, including older individuals or those less familiar with technology. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can easily navigate the app, follow its guidance, and install it with minimal effort.
For those requiring assistance, technical support is readily available through the app by selecting Settings > Technical Support > Request Support or by emailing info@sidekickhealth.com.
The Sidekick app is completely free for patients, with no subscription fees, in-app purchases, or hidden charges.
Sidekick’s programs are sponsored by trusted pharmaceutical partners, ensuring that patients have access to the app’s full range of features without any cost. Patients can rest assured that they will never be asked to pay to continue using the app or to unlock specific features.
Additionally, Sidekick does not run ads in the app or any of its programs, keeping the user experience focused on health and well-being. This commitment reflects Sidekick’s dedication to providing accessible, high-quality support for patients and healthcare providers alike.
The Sidekick app is specifically designed to support patients taking Rybelsus® or Ozempic® for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Developed in collaboration with Novo Nordisk, the app provides tailored features and resources to complement Rybelsus® or Ozempic® therapy, offering patients personalized guidance to help manage their condition effectively.
This partnership ensures that the program aligns closely with the unique needs of patients using Rybelsus® or Ozempic®, including medication reminders, symptom tracking, and daily missions to build healthy habits.
It is important to note that the app is exclusively designed to support Rybelsus® or Ozempic® therapy and does not extend to other diabetes medications.
The Sidekick app is designed for maximum accessibility and convenience, supporting both iOS and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets.
The program is not currently available for desktop devices, as the app is purposefully built to stay with patients wherever they go, ensuring support is always at hand.
The Rybelsus and Ozempic programs are currently available in Icelandic, Danish, and English, the Sidekick app caters to a diverse range of users. Its mobile-first design allows patients to integrate the app seamlessly into their daily lives, offering flexibility and ease of use no matter where they are.
The Sidekick app is thoughtfully designed to fit seamlessly into daily life without feeling like extra work. Its small, manageable tasks and science-backed tips are tailored to support patients’ health goals, offering daily missions, medication reminders, and symptom tracking that naturally align with regular routines.
The Sidekick program is designed to be self-guided for patients, ensuring no additional workload for pharmacists.
Technical support is handled directly by Sidekick Health, freeing pharmacists to focus on patient care. To assist pharmacists in introducing the app to patients, Sidekick provides a range of resources to clearly explain the program's benefits.
For additional support, pharmacists can access dedicated help through the pharmacist support line or via email at support@sidekickhealth.com. These resources ensure pharmacists are equipped to confidently recommend the program and provide their patients with the tools they need to succeed.
Simple solutions for common patient or pharmacist issues
Patients can contact support@sidekick.com for any technical issues, including onboarding, account access, app performance, or data tracking problems.
- Onboarding and account issues: If the QR code doesn’t work or a patient forgets their PIN, Sidekick support can assist. Multiple family members cannot share the same account.
- App performance & compatibility: The Sidekick app works on iOS and Android and does not require an internet connection. If the app crashes or freezes, users can update it or contact support for troubleshooting.
- Data tracking: Patients can log missed entries later. If data doesn’t save correctly, support is available.
- Help and support: Patients can contact their coach within the app or email support@sidekick.com, with responses typically within 24 hours.
For questions about Rybelsus® or Ozempic®, patients should contact Novo Nordisk for support.
List of collateral pharmacists can use, such as flyers or FAQs
Pharmacists have access to a variety of collateral to help guide patients in using the Sidekick app:
- Patient Flyers with QR Codes: These flyers provide patients with easy access to the app by scanning the QR code.
- Pharmacist Guide: Offers step-by-step guidance on how to introduce and explain the app to patients, as well as quick-reference scripts to support conversations about the app’s benefits.
- Online knowledge bank: A helpful webpage providing an overview of the program as answers frequently asked questions for pharmacists, ensuring they can assist patients more effectively.
We're Here to Help
Need support or want to discuss further? Book a call or a group meeting with our medical team
For healthcare professionals
pharmacists@sidekickhealth.com
For patients:
Our support team is ready to assist
