Broadway Star Ben Vereen Shows Diabetes Doesn't Have to Hold You Back in New Public Service Announcement

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning actor, dancer and singer Ben Vereen continues his efforts with Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) with support from Sanofi US to encourage the nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes to Start Taking Action Now for Diabetes (S.T.A.N.D.). The new public service announcement (PSA) features Ben and others living with diabetes who don't allow their condition to hold them back.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52632-taking-control-of-your-diabetes-tcoyd-sanofi-launch-ben-vereen-stand-psa

"Every 21 seconds another American is diagnosed with diabetes and the epidemic is growing," says Ben. "Through our PSA, we hope to inspire people living with diabetes to talk to their doctor and learn more about how best to manage their condition so they can start taking action now."

Ben was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2007 and worked with his doctor to determine the best treatment plan for him. Now Ben is hard at work on the S.T.A.N.D. program in the hopes of creating greater national urgency surrounding the disease.

The PSA will air on broadcast and online channels nationwide starting in November for American Diabetes Month and will continue to air over the next several months.

"We have enjoyed continuing to work with Ben Vereen and Sanofi US to raise diabetes awareness and admire Ben's passion to inform others that diabetes doesn't have to hold you back," said Dr. Steven Edelman, founder and director of TCOYD, and also a person living with type 1 diabetes.

The S.T.A.N.D. initiative was founded in 2009 and strives to help dispel the myths and misperceptions about diabetes and diabetes treatment options. S.T.A.N.D. aims to shift the perception of what it means to have diabetes and encourage people living with diabetes to feel empowered to take control and join the movement for better blood sugar control.

Visit www.STANDforDiabetes.org to view the PSA and hear from other inspiring people living with diabetes, as well as explore new site features like the "Ask the Doctor" forum with Dr. Edelman.

About Taking Control of Your Diabetes

Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering people with diabetes to become actively involved in their own healthcare. TCOYD does this through live national conferences, local events, publications, online resources, their educational television series and now 'Extreme Diabetes Makeover', their groundbreaking reality-based documentary-style online video series. Each year TCOYD has the opportunity to spark a new understanding and a new energy in hundreds of thousands of people living with this disease.

Steven V. Edelman, MD, founder and director of TCOYD, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15. Dr. Edelman is an internationally recognized leader in diabetes treatment, research and education.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi is the holding company of a consolidated group of subsidiaries and operates in the United States as Sanofi US, also referred to as Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. For more information on Sanofi US, please visit http://www.sanofi.us or call 1-800-981-2491.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Braidwood
(858) 755-5683
[email protected]

Susan Brooks
(908) 981-6566
[email protected]

SOURCE Taking Control of Your Diabetes