Janssen-Cilag International NV (Janssen) announced today its support for TeamBG (Team Blood Glucose) as a sponsor of the mHealth Grand Tour cycle ride. The 2,300km tour from Barcelona to Vienna connects the 2013 and 2014 locations of the annual congress of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, highlighting the important role of sport and exercise in managing diabetes.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Thomas Stark, Vice-President Medical Affairs, Janssen EMEA said, “Janssen is committed to improving the lives of patients with diabetes and we are absolutely delighted to be supporting this great event. Managing diabetes effectively can be a challenge but this event really highlights what is possible for patients and the tangible benefits of leading an active, healthy lifestyle.”
The mHealth Grand Tour has been organised by TeamBG and the participants are scheduled to arrive in Vienna on the 15th September. TeamBG are an international, all non-professional group of cyclists with the common aim of raising awareness of diabetes. Team BG work with experts in diabetes, exercise physiology, technology companies, healthcare professionals and patients to learn, share, educate, develop and deploy solutions and knowledge to help people manage their diabetes and encourage them to lead active lifestyles.
Paul Buchanan, Founder of TeamBG said, “This epic journey across Europe aims to connect, support and educate people living with diabetes on the benefits of sports and exercise as a tool for the self-management of this life-long condition. Essentially we want to help people achieve a better quality of life.”
Diabetes is a global epidemic with 382 million people worldwide living with diabetes, and some 56 million with diabetes in Europe.1 This sponsorship further reinforces Janssen’s commitment to better understanding diabetes, developing new treatment options and support services for patients to better manage their condition.
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About Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile-onset diabetes. It is usually caused by an auto-immune reaction where the body’s defence system attacks the cells that produce insulin. The reason this occurs is not fully understood. People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood.2
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to metabolise sugar, or glucose, and is characterised by the inability of pancreatic beta cell function to keep up with the body’s demand for insulin.2
If left uncontrolled, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications. People with type 2 diabetes can often initially manage their condition through exercise and diet. However, over time most people will require oral drugs and or insulin.2
About Janssen
The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson are dedicated to addressing and solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people throughout the world.
More information can be found at www.janssen-emea.com
About Team Blood Glucose (Team BG)
TeamBG is a not for profit social enterprise. Its vision is a world where people don’t die from diabetes. Its mission is to provide the tools, training and opportunity for all people with diabetes and all those prone to diabetes to engage in sports and exercise. Through training and education TeamBG hopes to help address the global rise in childhood obesity and the increase in Type 2 Diabetes in the young and young adults.
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References:
1 International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes Facts and Figures. Available at http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/toolkit/gp/facts-figures Last accessed 29.08.14
2 International Diabetes Federation. About Diabetes. Available http://www.idf.org/about-diabetes. Last Accessed: August 2014
