TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer Diabetes Care, a division of Bayer HealthCare LLC and a member of the Bayer Group , announced it has partnered with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to help support IDF’s “Unite for Diabetes Campaign”. The goal of the campaign is to gain action from governments for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes -- to raise awareness of this chronic disease and prompt decision-makers to take preventative actions against the growing health challenge.
New data from the IDF show that more than 230 million people, almost 6% of the world’s adult population, now live with diabetes. The number of people living with diabetes is expected to grow to 350 million in less than 20 years if action is not taken.
Diabetes is one of the major causes of premature death worldwide. Every ten seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes. The death rates are predicted to rise by 25% over the next decade. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease could reduce life expectancy globally for the first time in 200 years.
IDF predicts that by 2025 almost 80% of all diabetes cases will be in low- and middle-income countries. If nothing is done, diabetes will place severe economic, social and health burdens on the countries that can least afford it.
“Bayer is proud to be a corporate partner of the “Unite for Diabetes Campaign” and hopes to help raise awareness of the diabetes epidemic and encourage national government investment in better diabetes care services,” said Sandra Peterson, President, Bayer Diabetes Care.
The goal is to secure a Resolution on or around World Diabetes Day -- November 14, 2007.
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care is a worldwide leader in diabetes diagnosis and monitoring, supporting customers in 100 countries. Since the introduction of Clinitest(R) reagent tablets in 1941, Bayer has led the way in diabetes care product innovation. The company changed the face of diabetes care in 1969 when it introduced the first portable blood glucose meter and test strips. Bayer HealthCare further innovated diabetes management by being the first company to introduce a suite of blood glucose monitors that do not require coding. The BREEZE(R) and CONTOUR(R) blood glucose monitoring systems offer people with diabetes an unparalleled choice in diabetes management systems. Recently, the Arthritis Foundation in the United States and the Arthritis Society of Canada each granted ease -- of use designation to the BREEZE meter, representing the first time this type of device has been recognized as easy to use for arthritis sufferers.
In July 2006 Bayer Diabetes Care acquired Metrika Inc., maker and manufacturer of A1CNow+(R), a meter-based diabetes monitoring system for measurement of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) an important indicator of blood sugar control.
Bayer HealthCare Diabetes Care global headquarters is located in Tarrytown, New York, in the United States and operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group.
Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry based in Leverkusen/Germany. In 2005, the Bayer HealthCare subgroup generated sales amounting to some 9.4 billion Euros. Bayer HealthCare employed 33,800 people worldwide in 2005.
The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. Since January 1, 2006 the new Pharmaceutical Division consists of the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical Division and now comprises three business units: Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology and Primary Care.
Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Bayer Diabetes Care
CONTACT: Susan Yarin, +1-914-366-1738, susan.yarin.b@bayer.com; and SusanOelerking, +1-914-366-1807, susan.oelerking.b@bayer.com, both of BayerHealthCare
Web site: http://www.bayer.com/
