DiabetesYourType

“There’s nothing diabetes has stopped me from doing. In fact, in many ways it’s been positive for me because it inspired me to start Sweet. When I was diagnosed, all the information I was given was really negative and scary, and I wanted to show that it’s possible to live a happy, healthy life with diabetes” - Bridget

“It’s not  the end of the world and being diagnosed does not mean that your life has been cut  short. Have a positive mind, read about the disease, ask questions particularly to your doctor.  No man is an island therefore they should ensure that they always have the support they need to tackle any challenges that might arise” - Menzi 

“Life now is quite challenging, but also rewarding because I am learning a lot about myself, and my condition and these are lessons that’ll benefit me in the future as well” -  Onthatile

“I was living the life of a "rock star" suddenly my life changed. “I had never felt more exposed, more self-conscious or more insecure. It felt like I was facing my demons for the first time. Diabetes changed me, but I took ownership and DECIDED TO LIVE  “- Howza

Sanofi has been working for nearly a century to develop therapeutic solutions for diabetes. The ultimate goal is a cure, but in the meantime, Sanofi is working with everyone concerned–from people living with diabetes to patient associations, health care providers, educators, governments and local authorities–to deliver individualized care.

Recognizing that each person is unique, and each life is different, Sanofi’s integrated approach includes education, medicine and initiatives to provide better access to health care based on specific needs of individuals.

Sanofi and its partners, which include the International Diabetes Federation among many others, have long supported programs that encourage health literacy and diabetes education worldwide.

The amount of people affected by diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, especially in developing countries. The number of people with diabetes worldwide rose from 108 million in 1980 to 425 million in 2017, according to figures from the IDF. The majority of adults with diabetes–79 percent—live in low- and middle-income countries.

Sanofi is on the same page and is working to better understand the impact of education and training for health care professionals. Sanofi’s Diabetes Your Type campaign is part of a greater effort to highlight the importance of an individualized approach to diabetes care, through global and local initiatives.

Part of this involves understanding the impact education can have, which is why Sanofi sponsored the International Diabetes Management Practices Study, which spoke to 81,500 people and 6,000 health care professionals in 50 countries. The study found that education has a positive effect, improving engagement and treatment, and reducing diabetes-related complications.

Sanofi is using digital solutions to reach health care workers in more isolated areas such as Africa, where it sponsors E-diabete, an education program that has been distributed since 2009 and reaches more than 22,500 health care professionals across 14 African countries.

Education, shared experiences and family support go a long way in detecting, preventing and improving diabetes management and care.