Sanofi and Novo Nordisk Fight Diabetes with Education and Awareness
It is estimated that 25.8 million people in the U.S., including children and adults, have diabetes, or 8.3% of the population. Of these, 18.8 million are diagnoses while the remainder does not know they have the disease. In 2010 alone 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people 20 years and older. Diabetes was the underlying cause of 71,382 deaths in 2007 and it can contribute to heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy, and even amputation. The cases of diagnosed diabetes cost the United States $174 billion in 2007.
Education and awareness are the most effective weapons against the global diabetes epidemic. Bearing this mind, this is what Sanofi set out to do on World Diabetes Day on November 14th: the diabetes treatment company promoted a diabetes camp, where it told participants about the efforts of its NA Corporate Social Responsibility team.
The program included a Town Hall with A1C Champions and a walk around the Sanofi US Headquarters led by Brooklyn Nets head coach and Dribble to Stop Diabetes Ambassador Avery Johnson. During the day, Larry Hausner, CEO of the American Diabetes Association, discussed the importance of diabetes awareness as well as the value to patients in partnering with Sanofi US. The audience also had the opportunity to ask questions to an expert panel. Johnson also talked about the importance of diet and exercise and shared his personal connection to diabetes.
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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.
