Celebrity Chef Sam Talbot Joins "Life First™" Diabetes Awareness Campaign

MILPITAS, Calif., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrity chef Sam Talbot, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12, has joined the "Life First™" diabetes awareness campaign sponsored by OneTouch®, the leading brand of blood glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110802/NY45765 )

Talbot, a semi-finalist who was voted "Fan Favorite" on Bravo TV's "Top Chef," is executive chef of Imperial No. 9 in New York City's Mondrian Soho Hotel, and the Surf Lodge in Montauk, NY.  Since his diabetes diagnosis, Talbot has developed a deep understanding of the relationship between food and blood glucose levels and learned to successfully manage his diabetes while living a life full of adventure and achievement.  Through his involvement in the "Life First" campaign, Talbot will share his experience to help educate and inspire the nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes.  

"We're delighted to be working with Sam," said Val Asbury, President of North America, Diabetes Care Franchise. "Sam embodies the spirit of the "Life First" campaign.  He's not only committed to diabetes advocacy, he's also a role model for how people can successfully manage diabetes so that they can achieve their dreams."  

Talbot will make his first appearance on behalf of the OneTouch® Brand at the American Association of Diabetes Educators' (AADE) annual conference in Las Vegas on August 4, an event attended by thousands of diabetes educators who work closely with diabetes patients to help them develop successful strategies for living healthy lives.  Talbot will "dish" about his own diabetes, discuss the connection between food and blood sugar, dispel some myths and misconceptions about food, and conduct cooking demos featuring diabetes-friendly recipes from his upcoming book, "The Sweet Life:  Diabetes without Boundaries." (Rodale, October 2011).*

"Many people view their diabetes as a barrier that prevents them from doing all the things they want to do," says Talbot.  "But instead of having diabetes be the focus of your life, "Life First" means accepting your diabetes and taking control of it, every day, so that you can live your life on your terms."(1)

Over the coming months Talbot and the makers of OneTouch® Brand products will work together to raise awareness of the importance of regular glucose testing in managing diabetes and sharing strategies for success, particularly healthy eating.  Planned activities include additional appearances as well as sharing healthy diabetes recipes, stories and related information through various channels.

The OneTouch "Life First" campaign began in March, 2011, with ads featuring music legend B.B. King and Crystal Bowersox, runner up on American Idol Season 9.  Both King and Bowersox, like Talbot, have firsthand experience with diabetes and represent the broad spectrum of people living with the disease.  

For more information about the "Life First" campaign, visit www.Facebook.com/OneTouch, and for more information on diabetes care and OneTouch Products and services, visit www.OneTouch.com.  

About LifeScan:  LifeScan is the leading blood glucose monitoring company in the U.S.  More than 5 million people in the U.S. depend on LifeScan's OneTouch® Brand Products for simple testing and accurate results to help them manage their diabetes.  OneTouch® is the most recommended brand of meters by Healthcare Professionals in the U.S., including Endocrinologists, Primary Care Physicians and Diabetes Educators.  97% of patients, including those with Medicare, are insured for OneTouch® Brand Products according to MediMedia Formulary Compass, March 2011 and CMS Medicare Part B enrollment.  For more information on diabetes care and OneTouch® Products and services, visit www.OneTouch.com.

About Sam Talbot: Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12, Sam Talbot combines his two passions, food and diabetes advocacy.  His first cookbook, "The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries," will be released in October 2011 by Rodale Press.  He is currently Executive Chef at Imperial No. 9 (NYC) and Surf Lodge (Montauk, NY) and was a "Fan Favorite" on Bravo TV's "Top Chef."  A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he began his culinary training at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, SC. At 24, he moved to New York City as Executive Chef of the Black Duck Restaurant.  Two years later, he opened his own restaurant, the Williamsburg Cafe in Brooklyn's trendiest locale, where he was nominated for Best New Chef in Brooklyn, NY by CitySearch and Best Restaurant in Brooklyn by the New York Post.  His inventive dishes have garnered praised from The New York Times, New York Magazine, the Daily News, the New York Post, Zink Magazine, Time Out New York and Forbes Magazine. To learn more, visit www.samtalbot.com.

* Talbot will give the following cooking demonstrations on Thursday, August 4, 2011:

• 11:00 AM and 1:40 PM – LifeScan/OneTouch Booth #1918, Mandalay Bay Convention Hall.

• 9:45 PM – LifeScan/OneTouch Irish Coffee Social, Islander Ballroom, Mandalay Bay

All AADE convention attendees and media are invited to attend.  Recipes available upon request.

(1)  Sam Talbot is compensated for his services as a consultant to LifeScan, Inc.

SOURCE LifeScan, Inc.