LAVAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 30, 2011) -
Editors Note: There are two photos and one video associated with this press release.
Even though more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes, an awareness event staged during Diabetes Awareness Month showed just how far a little awareness, motivation and encouragement can go in the fight against diabetes.
Participants were unexpectedly cheered on by the antics of The Second City Communications improv troupe as they walked around a tiny race track (designed to resemble the International Diabetes Federation blue circle symbol for diabetes).
The public event, staged by Sanofi Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association, helped highlight how even taking a small step in the right direction, can help to manage or prevent type 2 diabetes.
"At Sanofi Canada, we're honouring Diabetes Awareness Month by encouraging Canadians to learn more about preventing and managing diabetes," says Hugh O'Neill, President and CEO, Sanofi Canada. "The good news is that we can make a difference in preventing diabetes. When it comes to diabetes, knowledge and empowerment leads to hope in the form of preventative healthy lifestyle choices. For example, regular physical activity, in conjunction with healthy eating and weight control, can help reduce type 2 diabetes incidence by over 50%."
"Today, nearly a million Canadians are living with diabetes and don't know it, because they have not been diagnosed," says Michael Cloutier, President and CEO, Canadian Diabetes Association. "Efforts to increase public awareness of diabetes, such as today's event, are critically important in our collective fight against this disease."
For more information about diabetes visit: www.diabetes.ca and http://www.diabetesbluecircle.org.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi is represented in Canada by the pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., based in Laval, Quebec, and by the vaccines company Sanofi Pasteur Limited, based in Toronto, Ontario. Together they employ more than 2,000 people across the country. With combined R&D investments of $159.2 million in 2010, they are leaders in Canada's biopharmaceutical sector, a critical knowledge-based industry that generates jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.
About the Canadian Diabetes Association
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure. Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications. Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).
To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20111130-Sanofi_Canada8.jpg
http://www.marketwire.com/library/20111130-Rayah_Hird8.jpg
To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link:
Contact Information:
onsite interviews contact: David Weinstein,
Rebecca Crittenden or Debra Quinn at Strategic Objectives:
(416) 366-7735 TOLL-FREE: 1-866-366-7733
rcrittenden@strategicobjectives.com
