Chris Noth Teams Up With Novo Nordisk to Highlight Need for Early Diabetes Detection

ACTOR URGES AMERICANS AT RISK FOR DIABETES AGES 45 OR OLDER TO GET SCREENED

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Jun 22, 2011, 08:30 ET

PRINCETON, N.J., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor Chris Noth and Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, have teamed up in a national education program, Ask.Screen.Know., to highlight the need for early diabetes screening and detection in light of the continuing escalation of diabetes prevalence. As an ambassador for the program, the award-winning actor currently appearing on CBS' show "The Good Wife" and known for his roles as Detective Mike Logan on "Law and Order" and Mr. Big on HBO's "Sex and the City" will appear in a national public service announcement to encourage Americans ages 45 or older to get tested for diabetes and talk to a healthcare professional about the risk factors.

"It's such a simple step to get screened for diabetes, a disease whose signs and symptoms are not always obvious," said Chris Noth. "My good friend lived with diabetes for a long time without knowing he had it. Getting diagnosed and talking to his doctor about treatment options gave him the motivation to start making positive changes to improve his health. If you're 45 or older, take a minute to ask questions, get screened and know what to do about diabetes."

Today, nearly 1 in 12 Americans has diabetes and a third of the people with the disease do not know they have it. According to an analysis by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue. With early detection and treatment, serious health complications of diabetes and prediabetes can be prevented or delayed. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to a long list of health complications such as heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure, blindness, nerve problems and amputations.

"As reinforced by the latest CDC analysis, the diabetes epidemic will continue to be a serious public health issue if we do not make significant changes," said Alan C. Moses, M.D., Global Chief Medical Officer of Novo Nordisk. "The goal of Ask.Screen.Know. is to reduce the burden of diabetes by encouraging those who are at risk for type 2 diabetes to get tested. If caught early, serious health complications can be prevented or delayed."

The American Diabetes Association recommends that those who are 45 years or older get tested for diabetes once every three years, in particular those who are overweight and have one or more risk factors such as family history of diabetes; lack of regular exercise; high blood pressure; having had diabetes during a pregnancy or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds; or are members of particular race/ethnicity (African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders).

This public service announcement is part of the ongoing Ask.Screen.Know. campaign sponsored by Novo Nordisk. The campaign aims to reach the estimated 7 million Americans who are living with diabetes, but are unaware that they have it. In addition to a national public service announcement, the campaign will reach the public through a dedicated website where visitors can take a risk assessment test, learn about the specific benefits of diabetes screening and get links to diabetes resources. The website can be accessed at http://www.askscreenknow.com/.

With the launch of this new public service announcement, Noth becomes the latest celebrity ambassador to join the Ask.Screen.Know. program. The program launched in 2009 with Academy Award® winner Olympia Dukakis and her husband, actor Louis Zorich.

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and women's health. For more information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk