India is home to the second largest number of people living with diabetes.¹ Diabetes occurs when there are raised levels of glucose in the blood either because the body is unable to produce any or enough of the hormone insulin, or cannot use insulin effectively.¹ Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart & blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth. In addition, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing infections.

We understand that it’s not easy to live with diabetes. In addition to medicines, one needs proper care and guidance to be able to manage the disease and live a quality of life which is as good as that of someone not suffering from the disease. By combining Sanofi’s innovative and high quality drugs with services, devices and data management, we aim at giving new hope to millions of people.

For most people suffering from diabetes, insulin is perceived as a dreaded path of doom. Apart from the daily pain of pricking themselves, the fear of dependency on medication adds to their stress. These patients deserve reassurance and guidance that proper diabetes management will surely improve their quality of life. This is why we created Saath 7, meaning together (saath in hindi) achieving HbA1c under 7.

Daily, a team of nearly 100 counselors across 45 cities guide patients on their diet, exercise and administering insulin.

In collaboration with Chellaram Diabetes Institute and Public Health Foundation of India, we launched ‘Diabetes with Dignity’ - a pilot program in a rural community of Pune district, Maharashtra. The objective of the program was to assess feasibility and effectiveness of a model for enhanced care of diabetes mellitus in adults, with support from ASHA workers.

Under the program, we educated ASHA workers, built capacity of Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and Multi-Purpose Workers (MPW) of sub centers, reoriented & educated medical officers at Primary Healthcare Centers in these villages, and involved community based organizations in raising awareness of diabetes and its complications. We will soon be releasing a white paper to share learning and effectiveness of this program, which will help scaling-up and tackling of the burden of diabetes in rural India.

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. Type 1 diabetes has no cure. Treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.

Imagine for a second, the life of a child with type 1 diabetes - multiple insulin injections every day, a restricted diet, and monitoring blood glucose levels - all to lead a normal life! Add to this, most people are unable to understand the child’s distressing condition, be it teachers and friends in schools or society at large, leading to social exclusion and psychological impact. As a health journey partner, our many initiatives have helped ease the life of people suffering from type 1 diabetes.