Paul and Mira Sorvino Reveal Diabetes Co-Stars: Cook-Off Winner

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Actors Paul and Mira Sorvino helped highlight the importance of proper diabetes nutrition at the Diabetes Co-Stars: Cook-Off, where Hidemi Walsh from Plainfield, Indiana was named the winner by a panel of prominent media personalities. Walsh's diabetes-friendly dessert claimed first place at the event, which was held at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival on September 30th. The contest was designed to demonstrate that healthy, diabetes-friendly food can be delicious and enjoyed by the entire family.

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"My husband is living with diabetes and I enjoy creating new diabetes-friendly recipes, especially desserts, that are delicious and healthy for us both," says Walsh. "Being able to share my recipe with the public means a lot to me and I hope it encourages people living with diabetes to have fun in the kitchen. I was honored to cook alongside Paul and Mira and to be a part of the Diabetes Co-Stars: Cook-Off!"

The recipe contest is a continuation of Paul and Mira's work with Sanofi US on the Diabetes Co-Stars awareness campaign, which aims to educate people living with diabetes and those who support them about better disease management. Paul is one of 26 million Americans living with diabetes, including 7 million who remain undiagnosed.

"I've always been a chef," says Paul, "but when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I had to change the way I cooked. The Diabetes Co-Stars: Cook-Off proves that you don't have to sacrifice taste in order to make meals diabetes-friendly. Mira and I had a great time supporting the finalists and preparing both dishes!"

Along with a healthy diet and physical activity, Paul currently uses Lantus® SoloSTAR® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) as part of his overall diabetes treatment plan. While lifestyle changes and treatment continue to help Paul on his diabetes journey, his daughter Mira's support has also helped him stay on track.

To view Walsh's winning recipe for Berry Soy Milk Cream Pie with Panko Crust, visit www.DiabetesCoStars.com, where you can also find Paul and Mira's story along with more helpful tips on diabetes-friendly cooking. The website provides information on how people living with diabetes can incorporate a healthy lifestyle and treatment options including insulin into their overall diabetes treatment plan. Also on www.DiabetesCoStars.com, people living with diabetes, family and friends can find helpful links and connect with the Sanofi Diabetes US Facebook page and Twitter 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.

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 may be serious and life threatening. It may cause harm to your heart or brain.  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.

Lantus SoloSTAR is a disposable prefilled insulin pen. Please talk to your healthcare provider about proper injection technique and follow instructions in the Instruction Leaflet that accompanies the pen.

For Full Prescribing Information for Lantus® please visit www.Lantus.com or call 1-800-633-1610.

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 26 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 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 the Sanofi Diabetes Division

Sanofi strives to help people manage the complex challenges of diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and personalized solutions.  Driven by valuable insight that comes from listening to and engaging with people living with diabetes, the Company is forming partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies, services, and devices.  Sanofi markets both injectable and oral medications for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.  Investigational compounds in the pipeline include an injectable GLP-1 agonist being studied as a single agent, in combination with basal insulins, and/or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents.

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

US.GLA.11.09.007

SOURCE Sanofi US