Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Public Health
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Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, and the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) are launching a collaborative project to enhance dialogue among local diabetes experts, policy makers and the media to improve public awareness of the key issues associated with diabetes management.
The locally-based effort will include Picture This forums, hosted in collaboration with KING-TV (NBC) in Seattle and WPVI-TV (ABC) in Philadelphia. The forums include an open discussion among diabetes stakeholders and the media to identify top diabetes communication challenges, explore strategies to address those priorities and strengthen community understanding about diabetes through news media and community affairs programs. Currently, 7% of the Seattle population and 13% of the Philadelphia population is living with diabetes.(1,2)
"Novo Nordisk is proud to join EIC, the media and community leaders in Seattle and Philadelphia to explore ways to improve how diabetes is communicated about and understood by local citizens," said Dr. Tony Deluzio, Senior Medical Director at Novo Nordisk. "As the prevalence of diabetes continues to be on the rise, bringing together those on the frontline of diabetes care will open the potential to reduce the stigma associated with diabetes and empower those affected by the disease to lead full and productive lives."
James Avery, an actor best known for his role as Phillip Banks, the uncle of Will Smith's character on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, will participate in the Seattle and Philadelphia forums as a celebrity ambassador to the initiative. Mr. Avery, who is living with type 2 diabetes, hopes that his participation will elevate diabetes to top-of-mind status in the media and inspire stories about the real issues faced by the diabetes community.
"Having lived with type 2 diabetes for over 15 years, I understand the challenges patients face with overall diabetes management and taking control of the disease," said Avery. "I am supporting Picture This because the community will benefit from more informed news reporting on diabetes issues that matter to patients."
The Picture This forums will take place on Friday, October 22, 2010, at KING-TV (NBC) studios in Seattle and on Thursday, November 18, 2010, at the studios of WPVI-TV (ABC) in Philadelphia.
"The Picture This forums drive an open dialogue between thought leaders and the media community to dispel diabetes myths and accurately depict the realities of this public health challenge," said Brian Dyak, President & CEO, Entertainment Industries Council. "Our goal is to establish ongoing relationships to determine the most pressing diabetes-related concerns in Seattle and Philadelphia and address those priorities through news coverage and community service activities."
About Diabetes
Every 21 seconds another American is diagnosed with diabetes.(3) Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes and another 57 million have diabetes and are at risk for developing the disease.(4) On its current course, the number of people with diabetes is projected to nearly double to 44.1 million by 2034 due in large part to the aging of the baby boomer population and increased rates of overweight Americans and obesity.(5)
Diabetes cannot yet be cured, but it can be managed. With the proper diet, exercise, regular blood sugar testing and treatment therapy, people living with diabetes can lead full and active lives. If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to severe health complications, including blindness, kidney disease, foot amputations, heart disease and stroke. Insulin therapy, discovered nearly 90 years ago, remains one of the most significant discoveries in the field of medicine and continues to be a mainstay of diabetes treatment as a way to reduce the risk of developing serious complications.(6)Diabetes in Seattle
In 2010, over 233,500 people living in Seattle have diabetes. About 51.400 of them have not yet been diagnosed. Another 645,600 people in Seattle have pre-diabetes, a condition in which the blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet in the range for diabetes. The overall costs of diabetes for the Seattle Metro Area will be $2.4 billion in 2010. Based on current forecasts, the number of people with diabetes in the Seattle Metro Area will increase to over 392,000 by 2025.(7)
Diabetes in Philadelphia
According to the Public Health Management Corporation Household Health Survey, conducted in 2008, 13% of adults in Philadelphia have identified with ever having diabetes.(8)
References
(1) Institute for Alternative Futures, Diabetes 2025 Forecasts, September 201. Seattle Metropolitan Area Diabetes Data Summary (Including Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue).
(2) http://www.phila.gov/health/pdfs/PDPH_overview.pdf
(3) American Diabetes Association. I Decide to Fight Diabetes Fact Sheet.
(4) 007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control Web site.
(5) Huang et al (2009) Projecting the Future Diabetes Population Size and Related Costs for the U.S. Diabetes Care, December 2009,Vol. 32, No 12, 2225-2229
(6) Dall et al. The Economic Burden of Diabetes. Health Affairs. 29, NO. 2 (2010)
(7) 2025 Diabetes Forecasts for State and Metropolitan Areas Study by the Institute for Alternative Futures utilizes a national model from Narayan, Impact of Recent Increase in Incidence on Future Diabetes Burden, Diabetes Care 2006;29:2114-2116; US Census Bureau population estimates; latest CDC national diabetes statistics and state prevalence rates; and ADA and Lewin Group diabetes costs
(8) http://www.phila.gov/health/pdfs/PDPH_overview.pdf
Source: Novo Nordisk
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