American Diabetes Association, Ad Council launch new ads, online tools

NEW YORK The American Diabetes Association and the Ad Council, working with the National Council of La Raza and the American Association of Diabetes Educators, are joining to launch a new series of national public service advertisements and online tools designed to raise awareness of the risks of uncontrolled diabetes and help those Americans with diabetes take the first steps toward staying healthy.

The PSAs illustrate how serious complications of diabetes can arise suddenly and without warning, and encourage those with diabetes to proactively engage their healthcare providers in a conversation about understanding and managing their risk factors. The ads are an extension of the American Diabetes Association and Ad Council's national multimedia campaign, which first launched in 2007.

"These PSAs are what we need to further educate people with diabetes about the deadly complications that can occur if one does not properly manage his or her disease," said R. Paul Robertson, M.D., president medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association. "We are excited to once again continue our collaboration with the Ad Council to reach hundreds of communities in need of education. Education is a key component to changing the future of diabetes."

The campaign drives audiences to visit two new Web sites: www.diabetesactnow.org and Spanish language site www.diabetesactuaya.org. The Web sites give adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes friendly, supportive places to get simple answers and learn easy actions to help reduce and/or prevent complications. Each site features a diabetes healthcare professional who explains why people with diabetes need to know their ABCs (A1C - a measure of average glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol), and includes a library of entertaining videos designed to help users make easy lifestyle changes to improve their diabetes numbers.