Paul and Mira Sorvino Launch New Diabetes Awareness Program

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor Paul Sorvino, living with type 2 diabetes, and his daughter, Academy-award winning actress Mira Sorvino, have teamed up with sanofi-aventis U.S. to launch "Diabetes Co-Stars," an awareness program aimed to help people living with diabetes and those who support them.  

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"'Diabetes Co-Stars' will help inspire people to find support for their diabetes journey," says Paul.  "After my diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, I was completely overwhelmed. I realized the importance of learning how to manage the condition, and that I don't have to do it alone. I also worked with my doctor to discuss lifestyle changes and to find a treatment plan that works for me."

Paul was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2006 and at the direction of his doctor, he began taking prescription oral diabetes medications, but Paul was still not reaching his blood sugar goals. Paul asked his doctor about Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) in the Lantus® SoloSTAR® pen and began taking the insulin treatment once a day at the same time each day as part of his overall diabetes treatment plan, which also includes regular exercise, a healthy diet and oral diabetes medications. The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus®, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience symptoms, such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat and blurred vision.

While treatment and lifestyle changes continue to help Paul on his diabetes journey, having support from his daughter Mira has also helped him to make the right decisions.

"After my dad was diagnosed, I realized that I needed to quickly educate myself about his condition so that I can always be equipped with the right tools to help keep him on track with his treatment plan," says Mira.  "I encourage everyone living with or touched by diabetes to visit www.DiabetesCoStars.com to learn more and hear my dad and me talk about our experiences living with his diabetes."

Visit www.DiabetesCoStars.com to see Paul and Mira discuss Paul's diagnosis and managing his condition.  The site provides guidance to those who support people living with diabetes as well. Family and friends can find advice on lifestyle choices, healthy cooking, promoting physical activity and treatment options including insulin. The site also provides links to the sanofi-aventis U.S. Diabetes social media pages; join the sanofi-aventis U.S. diabetes page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest updates in diabetes research and care.

Important Safety Information for Lantus®

Do not take Lantus® if you are allergic to insulin or any of the inactive ingredients in Lantus®.

You must test your blood sugar levels while using insulin, such as Lantus®. Do not make any changes to your dose or type of insulin without talking to your healthcare provider. Any change of insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.

Do NOT dilute or mix Lantus® with any other insulin or solution. It will not work as intended and you may lose blood sugar control, which could be serious. Lantus® must only be used if the solution is clear and colorless with no particles visible. Do not share needles, insulin pens or syringes with others.

The most common side effect of insulin, including Lantus®, is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which may be serious. Some people may experience symptoms such as shaking, sweating, fast heartbeat, and blurred vision. Severe hypoglycemia can be dangerous and can cause harm to your heart or brain. It may cause unconsciousness, seizures, or death. 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. Before starting Lantus®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including if you have liver or kidney problems, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.

Indications and Usage

Prescription Lantus® is a long-acting insulin used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and adults and children (6 years and older) with type 1 diabetes for the control of high blood sugar. It should be taken once a day at the same time each day to lower blood glucose. Do not use Lantus® to treat diabetic ketoacidosis.

Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a disposable prefilled insulin pen.

For full prescribing information for Lantus®, please visit www.Lantus.com or call 800-633-1610.

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. More than 230 million people worldwide are living with the disease and this number is expected to rise to a staggering 350 million within 20 years. It is estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 5.7 million who remain undiagnosed. At the same time, approximately 40 percent of those diagnosed are not achieving the blood sugar control target of A1C < 7 percent recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The A1C test measures average blood glucose levels over the past two-to three-month period.

About sanofi-aventis U.S.

Sanofi-aventis U.S. is an affiliate of sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to help improve the lives of patients.  Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

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SOURCE sanofi-aventis U.S.