Sanofi US and Actress Elizabeth Perkins Premiere Documentary -- Diabetes Co-Stars Presents "Strength in Numbers"

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi US and Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actress Elizabeth Perkins proudly premiered the Diabetes Co-Stars documentary, "Strength in Numbers," at the American Diabetes Association Expo in Los Angeles, CA this past weekend. The film, produced by Elizabeth and her 'co-star' and husband Julio Macat, features her diabetes story as well as two other inspirational stories from the 2012 Diabetes Co-Stars casting call contest – best friends Amanda Bauer and Anne Casey from New York, and father-daughter duo Eugenio and Naiomi Rivera from Texas.

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The pairs were selected because of their empowering stories of dedication and support, with Amanda and Anne giving back to their community by spearheading support groups for youth living with diabetes, and Eugenio and Naiomi guiding one another through their daily diabetes management. The documentary highlights their stories, in addition to Elizabeth and Julio's, and can be viewed online at www.DiabetesCoStars.com.

"Hearing these stories, I truly identified with the level of support and caring these people showed one another and was so excited to feature them in this documentary," said Elizabeth Perkins, star of the new ABC sitcom 'How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life).' "The Diabetes Co-Stars program is close to my heart because it celebrates those who support the 26 million Americans living with diabetes every day and this film shines a light on these inspiring people."

Perkins, who is living with type 1 diabetes, produced the documentary as part of her partnership with Sanofi US on the Diabetes Co-Stars campaign, which has brought awareness to millions of Americans about the power of a support team for people living with diabetes since the program's launch in 2010. She currently uses Lantus^® SoloSTAR^® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) as part of her overall diabetes treatment plan, along with exercise, healthy diet and the support from her family and friends.

As part of the program, Sanofi US is supporting the Diabetes Hands Foundation and its efforts to encourage an open dialogue around the realities of living with diabetes.

"We are so thankful to Sanofi US for their continued support in our mission to connect, engage, and empower people touched by diabetes," said Manny Hernandez Co-Founder and President of Diabetes Hands Foundation. "You can make an even bigger impact by watching the documentary online."

When "Strength in Numbers" reaches 10,000 online views, Sanofi US will double its initial donation for a total of $20,000.

To learn more about how you can support your loved ones with diabetes, please visit www.DiabetesCoStars.com, and follow the Sanofi US Diabetes Facebook page and Twitter feed for additional updates.

Indications and Usage for Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)

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 (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection)

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. It is estimated that 371 million people worldwide and nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 7 million Americans 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 Diabetes

Sanofi strives to help people manage the complex challenge of diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and personalized solutions. Driven by valuable insights that come from listening to and engaging with people living with diabetes, the Company is forming partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies, services, and devices including innovative blood glucose monitoring systems. 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 insulin, 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. For more information on Sanofi US, please visit http://www.sanofi.us or call 1-800-981-2491.

Media Contacts:

Rachel Ferrand
Specialist, U.S. Communications                            
Tel.: (908) 981-6673
Email: [email protected]

US.GLA.13.02.167

SOURCE Sanofi US