Media seminar organized by sanofi-aventis

Notes and media contacts

Diabetes Mellitus disease:
Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is the term used to describe a chronic disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in production of insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by abnormally high concentrations of glucose in the blood. The WHO criterion for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is a level of fasting plasma glucose of 7.0 mmol/L (1,26 g/L)4

Diabetes treatments are aimed at lowering the glucose in the blood, in order to delay the appearance of complications. Insulins are given as a substitute (Type 1) or a supplement (Type 2) to natural insulin secretion.

A key goal of diabetes treatment is to prevent complications because, over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, although the person may not know damage is taking place. It's important to diagnose and treat diabetes early, because it can cause damage even before it makes someone feel ill.

The European Diabetes Policy Group (EDPG)5 and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), recommend that people with diabetes achieve an HbA1C of under 6.5% for optimal diabetes control.6 The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes achieve an HbA1C under 7%, although more stringent glycaemic goals (i.e. a normal HbA1C, under 6%) may further reduce complications at the cost of increased risk of hypoglycaemia.7

Diabetes prevalence in some countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Region (EMME) is among the highest in the world (9.4% in 2007). This vast region extends from Pakistan in the east to Morocco in the west, and the population is a mosaic of several ethnic groups. The age distribution pattern of the population is pyramidal with about 50% of the population below the age of 20 years.

Six of the countries of the region - United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman - have had studies performed showing their current diabetes prevalence to be among the world's 10 highest, and a similar situation applies for the IGT (impaired glucose tolerance = pre-diabetes) prevalence in these countries. As with many other countries with high diabetes prevalence, the onset of type 2 diabetes tends to occur at a relatively young age.

According to the IDF (International Diabetes Federation), the number of people aged 20 to 79 years with diabetes in the EMME region will increase from 24,5 million in 2007 to 44,5 million in 2025. Moreover, the number of people with impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes) will increase from 22,4 million to 38,6 million during the same period.

Devoted initiative "Developing actions for better Outcomes in Diabetes care"

The Devoted initiative has mobilized key medical thought leaders and stakeholders to improve the care management of diabetes in the Middle East Region. A group of 70 participants from Gulf countries, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan KSA, Lebanon from various groups of disease management (Endocrinologists, Diabetologists, Nurses, Nutritionists,...) and local decision makers (access players, Governments and private representatives), as well as Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic committee and Nurses & Patient association representatives have gathered together in Dubai.

Devoted is a unique opportunity to pool different experiences and opinions from countries of the Middle East Region, and learn from these to identify concrete actions to be implemented on a country by country basis, thus contributing to the improvement of diabetes care in the Middle East region.

ABOUT SANOFI-AVENTIS:
Sanofi-aventis is one of the world leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, ranking number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&D organisation, sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).


For further media information, please contact:

Dalia Aziz
Sanofi-aventis
Tel: 9714 - 3311300 Ext. 55;
Fax: 9714 - 3311132

Sue-Ellen Lazrado
Headline Public Relations
Tel: 9714 - 2289655 Ext 120
Fax: 9714 - 2282125


1. WHO Diabetes mellitus Fact sheet N° 138, April 2002 / Diabetes: The cost of diabetes
Fact sheet N° 236, Sept. 2002 / www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets (accessed April 2006)
2. WILD S., ROGLIC G., FREEN A., SICREE R., KING H. / Global prevalence of diabetes
Diabetes Care 2004, 27: 1047-1053
3. DIABETES ATLAS Third Edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2007
4 Report of a WHO consultation, Part 1: Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus, Geneva, 59p, WHO/NCD/NCS/99.2.
5. European Diabetes Policy Group, Diabetic Medicine 1999;16:716-30
6. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Medical Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: The AACE System of Intensive Diabetes Self-Management—2002 Update. Endocrine Pract (2002) 8 (Suppl. 1): 40-82)
7. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2005; 28 (Suppl 1): S5-S36