New Campaign Aims to Inspire People With Diabetes to Experience 'Diabetes Freedom'
22 Juin 2004 - 4:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
New Campaign Aims to Inspire People With Diabetes to Experience
'Diabetes Freedom' - Patti LaBelle Teams Up With Makers of
Glucerna(R) to Find People Successfully Managing Diabetes -
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of Glucerna
today launched a new campaign to encourage the 18 million Americans
living with diabetes to experience "diabetes freedom" and offer
them a new outlook to manage the disease. Grammy Award-winner Patti
LaBelle, living with type 2 diabetes, will serve as the campaign's
spokesperson. The contest is sponsored by Abbott Laboratories' Ross
Products Division, makers of Glucerna Bars and Shakes for people
with diabetes. The program kicks off with a nationwide contest to
identify people who are successfully managing their diabetes -- and
who can serve as role models to inspire others. The contest, which
officially launches July 1 and ends Sept. 20, invites people with
diabetes to answer the question, "What does diabetes freedom mean
to you?" Five winners will receive the opportunity to share their
stories of successfully managing their condition through a national
education campaign, in partnership with Patti LaBelle.
Additionally, the grand prize winner, four first prize winners and
20 runners-up will each receive a 12-month supply of Glucerna Bars
and Shakes to help them continue achieving diabetes control. "When
I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 10 years ago, I often
felt out of control and limited by all of the restrictions," said
LaBelle, who turned 60 in May and lost her mother, grandmother and
aunt to diabetes. "Instead of worrying about it, I worked with my
doctor to commit to an action plan for managing my diabetes, which
includes proper nutrition and exercise. With a new outlook and a
diabetes action plan in place, I began to embrace the freedom to
live life to its fullest. I hope this campaign will inspire people
with diabetes to experience this same type of freedom." Contest
entrants will be asked to submit a 250-500 word essay that tells an
inspiring story about how they manage their diabetes to experience
diabetes freedom. The panel of judges will look for personal
stories illustrating how people with diabetes have learned to stay
in control on a day-to-day basis -- and how this change has
positively affected their lives as a result. The judges also will
consider entrants who are actively working to better manage their
disease and who can share a vision for how they will feel when they
reach their diabetes control goals. Stories should share details
about what diabetes control and management allows entrants to do,
from enrolling in a Pilates class to going on a seven-day cruise to
working in the backyard garden. The grand prize winner will receive
a trip to meet LaBelle and see her in concert and will join the
four first prize winners as guests of honor at a special Diabetes
Freedom Day event in October, where Americans from coast to coast
will join together to pledge their commitment to a diabetes action
plan. There, the winners all will have the chance to tell their
stories and inspire the millions of people striving to control
their diabetes and accomplish their personal goals. "Sponsoring
this contest is an example of our dedication to advancing the
quality of life for people with diabetes," said Gary McCullough,
senior vice president, Ross Products Division of Abbott
Laboratories. "We know there are tremendous success stories out
there about people who are living well, and we want to hear them to
provide hope and encouragement to the 18 million Americans with
diabetes and another 20 million people who are at risk for the
condition." According to the national Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the
United States. In 2002, the disease cost more than $132 billion in
medical expenditures and lost productivity. Along with this
startling impact on the nation, diabetes can cause serious
complications for individuals. People with diabetes are at elevated
risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and
amputation, among other risks. But many of these risks can be
reduced through successful disease management. Glucerna Shakes,
Glucerna Weight Loss Shakes, Glucerna Snack Bars and Glucerna Meal
Bars offer a nutritional alternative for people with diabetes
looking for easy, worry-free options as part of a meal, as snacks,
or as delicious meal replacements. Glucerna products are clinically
shown to help manage blood sugar levels using unique blends of
slowly digested carbohydrates. Glucerna products are for use under
medical supervision in the dietary management of diabetes. For more
information about Glucerna products, visit http://www.glucerna.com/
. For more information about the contest, or to obtain an entry
form and the official contest rules, visit
http://www.diabetesfreedom.com/ or http://www.glucerna.com/ , or
call 1-800-986-8935. About Patti LaBelle Patti LaBelle is a
legendary singer, songwriter, actress, author, entrepreneur and
humanitarian, who has been blazing trails in the entertainment
business for over four decades. Patti has recorded nearly 50 albums
as a soloist and as a member of the Bluebelles and later LaBelle,
garnering honors which include two Grammy Awards, two American
Music Awards, seven NAACP Image Awards, three Emmy nominations, a
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and three honorary doctorate
degrees. She stars in a new television series, "Living It Up With
Patti LaBelle," on the TV One Network, is the author of four books,
including three New York Times bestsellers and recently launched a
women's clothing line available through HSN and http://www.hsn.com/
. Patti continues to draw sold-out crowds and on May 4, 2004 she
released Timeless Journey, her first studio album in over four
years, on Def Soul Classics. Abbott's Ross Products Division As a
world leader in nutrition, the Ross Products Division of Abbott
Laboratories is committed to helping people of all ages meet their
nutritional needs. Abbott pioneered the market for adult
nutritionals more than three decades ago. Today, the family of
adult nutritional products includes Ensure(R), Glucerna(R) and
ZonePerfect(R). For more information about Abbott's Ross Products
Division, visit http://www.ross.com/ . Abbott Laboratories is a
global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery,
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and
medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.
The company employs more than 55,000 people and markets its
products in more than 130 countries. Abbott's news releases and
other information are available on the company's Web site at
http://www.abbott.com/ . DATASOURCE: Abbott Laboratories CONTACT:
Media, Carolyn Valek of Abbott Laboratories, +1-614-624-7404, or
Nicole Bregar of Burson-Marsteller, +1-312-596-3433 Web site:
http://www.diabetesfreedom.com/ http://www.glucerna.com/
http://www.ross.com/ http://www.abbott.com/ Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html
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