
Photo by Poby
(ARA) – A group of amateur and professional athletes, many of whom have diabetes, is touring the country, hoping to inspire and motivate others with the condition to take a proactive approach to managing their health and strive for blood sugar control.
The team of athletes, called Team Type 1, will take their personal messages of hope to audiences across the country this year. Their goal: to encourage others to be proactive in managing their condition through a healthy diet, regular exercise, monitoring their blood sugar levels, taking their insulin as prescribed, and working closely with their healthcare team.
“The members of Team Type 1 challenge one another on multiple levels — as athletes, but also as people living with diabetes striving for better blood sugar control,” says Phil Southerland, founder and chief executive officer of Team Type 1. “I consider proper blood sugar management to be a journey, just like our races, with a lot of little challenges, obstacles and victories along with way.”
Founded in 2004 by friends Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge, both diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as children, Team Type 1 is the first professional cycling team dedicated to raising awareness about diabetes. Team Type 1 has evolved over the years and expanded to include a diverse group of 46 athletes from around the world. Since 2006, the team has competed in and twice won the 3,052 mile-long Race Across America (RAAM).
In 2009, Team Type 1 is sponsored by the long-acting insulin Lantus (R) (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), and rapid-acting mealtime insulin Apidra (R) (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection), which are both manufactured by sanofi-aventis. As a result of this sponsorship, Team Type 1 has expanded its roster and fielded a total of five athletic teams including a men’s professional cycling team and a women’s professional cycling team, both featuring a mixed roster of riders with and without type 1 diabetes; an elite cycling team for the 2009 RAAM comprised entirely of riders with type 1 diabetes; and a triathlon team whose members all have type 1 diabetes. In addition to its type 1 roster, Team Type 1 also launched Team Type 2, a team of amateur cyclists living with type 2 diabetes, sponsored by Lantus (R).
Members of Team Type 1 with diabetes use Lantus (R), Apidra (R), or a combined treatment regimen of both insulins to help control their blood sugar as part of their overall diabetes treatment plan. The members of Team Type 2 manage their blood sugar through their own individualized diabetes treatment plan, which, for some members, may include Lantus (R) other diabetes medications, diet and exercise.
As part of an effective diabetes treatment plan, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) encourages people living with diabetes to track their blood sugar levels with daily self-monitoring and by taking an A1C test, which measures average blood sugar levels over the past two-to-three-month period. To keep blood sugar levels under control, the ADA recommends striving for an A1C of less than seven percent. Unfortunately, more than 40 percent of all patients with diabetes in the United States are not achieving this target with diet, exercise and oral medications alone. It is important for patients with diabetes to talk to their treating healthcare provider about an appropriate A1C goal for them.
For more information on Lantus (R) and Apidra (R), please visit www.Lantus.com and www.Apidra.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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SIDEBAR:
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR LANTUS (R)
Prescription Lantus (R) is for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes who require long-acting insulin for the control of high blood sugar.
DO NOT DILUTE OR MIX LANTUS (R) WITH ANY OTHER INSULIN OR SOLUTION. It will not work as intended, and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. Do not change your insulin without talking with your doctor. The syringe must not contain any other medication or residue. You should not use Lantus (R) if you are allergic to insulin. Lantus (R) is a long-acting insulin you inject just once a day, at the same time each day. You must test your blood sugar levels while using an insulin such as Lantus (R).
The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus (R), is hypoglycemia, which may be serious. Other possible side effects may include injection site reactions, including changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, including itching and rash. In rare cases, some allergic reactions may be life threatening. Tell your doctor about other medicines and supplements you are taking because they can change the way insulin works.
Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
For full prescribing information, please visit www.Lantus.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR APIDRA (R)
Prescription Apidra (R) is for adults with type 2 diabetes or adults and children (4 years and older) with type 1 diabetes to improve blood sugar control. Do not use Apidra (R) during a low blood sugar reaction (hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Apidra (R). Apidra (R) should normally be used with a longer-acting insulin.
Apidra (R) may also be infused subcutaneously by external insulin infusion pumps.
Apidra (R) has a more rapid onset and shorter duration of action than regular human insulin. When used as a mealtime insulin, Apidra (R) should be given within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Do not change your dose or the type of insulin you use without talking with your treating healthcare provider. Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, as well as other medicines and supplements you are taking. Check your blood sugar levels while on insulin therapy, such as Apidra (R).
The most common side effect of insulin therapy, including Apidra (R), is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Other possible side effects may include low blood potassium, injection site reactions, such as changes in fat tissue at the injection site, and allergic reactions, such as itching and rash. Less common, but potentially more serious or life-threatening, is generalized allergy to insulin, including anaphylactic reactions.
When used in a pump, do not mix Apidra (R) with any other insulin or liquid. If the pump or infusion set does not work right, you may not receive the right amount of insulin. Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or ketosis can happen. Problems should be identified and corrected as quickly as possible. Change the Apidra (R) in the pump reservoir every 48 hours.
Exercise or activity level may change the way your body uses insulin. Check with your healthcare provider before you start an exercise program because your dose may need to be changed.
For full prescribing information, please visit www.Apidra.com.
© 2009 sanofi-aventis U.S.LLC
Tags: Apidra, Lantus, RAAM, Race Across America, sanofi-aventis, Team Type 1, Type 1 Diabetes