Recent surveys conducted around the world by Aventis call for greater recognition and utilization of A1C (glycated hemoglobin) to achieve the best control of diabetes. A1C reflects blood glucose levels over a two-to-three month period, and is the preferred standard for assessing glycemic control. Diabetes affects more than 177 million people worldwide. Of those 177 million people, currently less than 20 per cent have good metabolic control Poor glycemic control is associated with a higher risk of developing potentially devastating and life threatening complications.

In the US, a survey of people with diabetes showed that only 44 per cent are aware of A1C. High awareness of A1C (80 per cent) was seen in diabetes patients in Germany, and those patients who were well informed about A1C had an A1C average of 6.63 per cent. In contrast, those surveyed in India showed a very low awareness of A1C (12 per cent).

In a survey of diabetes patients in Britain, only 42 per cent knew the acceptable range for A1C, and more than half of those surveyed (55 per cent), did not know the health implications of an elevated A1C number.

In France, 42 per cent of people with diabetes do not know the result of their latest A1C test and only 38 per cent of them have an A1C < 7 per cent.

"Overall, these new data show that the majority of people with diabetes are not aware of the importance of good blood glucose control," said Wim Wientjens, president of the International Diabetes Federation Europe. "More needs to be done to address the problem of uncontrolled diabetes and to raise awareness of the latest and best methods to manage this serious disease."

Diabetes can be treated or controlled very effectively. These latest study findings reveal a need for raising awareness of the latest and best methods to control and treat diabetes. Public health programs should encourage greater emphasis on how people can achieve their A1C goal in an effort to tackle this worldwide problem.

“At Aventis, we believe that communicating about the benefits of achieving target A1C levels to thought leaders, physicians, policy-makers and educating the diabetes community can help to reduce the serious public health impact of this disease and help to control the costs of treatment," said Kim Carroll, vice president, diabetes, Aventis.

As part of its observation of World Diabetes Day, Aventis, a leader in providing diabetes management therapies and important therapeutic products, demonstrates policy, educational and research initiatives designed to help achieve awareness of the importance of A1C control. Following are just a few examples of the many Aventis activities taking place around the world:

Advocating, in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), for greater EU policies regarding the control and management of diabetes.

Providing first hand experience and knowledge of the accessibility and effectiveness of A1C glycaemic control by bringing A1C Testing to the European Parliament premises on November 4-6, 2003. Nearly 700 in-depth blood glucose or A1C tests have been conducted among Members of European Parliament, EU Commission officials and key EU policy-makers.

Continuing to play a major role in diabetes control through a commitment to educational and awareness raising programs in Europe. In Europe, 32 million people are suffering from diabetes, a figure four times higher than ten years ago, and yet, there has been no coordinated European Union initiative or action to tackle this problem.

Support forA1C<7 per cent by 2007: A blueprint for reversing the growing trend of uncontrolled diabetes in the US.

Sponsoring a three-year, stepwise plan of action, developed by a group of leading experts representing key public health and medical organizations, to help increase the number of Americans who are achieving optimal blood glucose (sugar) control – as defined by anA1C<7 per cent – by the year 2007.

Implementation of a "Life is better under 7" disease awareness programs.

United Kingdom -- Implementing the program in four regions to educate patients about the importance and significance of A1C testing and containing a call-to-action for patients to speak with their healthcare provider about their own A1C and how to get to goal.

France -- Encompassing consumer education advertisements on national radios and in the November issues of various national press to educate patients about the importance of getting to goal. The campaign, “You are diabetic… keep in mind 7 and stay under,” is the result of a strong partnership between AFD (French Association of Diabetics), Alfediam (French Association of Diabetologists) and Aventis, which both meet the same goal: reach A1C < 7 per cent in order to prevent the complications of diabetes.

Facilitation of landmark research to provide important information about the management and care of people with type 2 diabetes:

Treat-to-Target, a comparative study to help determine which basal insulin analogue is best suited for providing optimal therapy to achieve complete treatment success, rigorously defined as reaching target A1C<7 per cent without an episode of documented nocturnal hypoglycemia. The 24-week, multi-center, randomized trial involved over 750 people with type 2 diabetes whose disease was inadequately controlled with oral therapy, and who had not been previously treated with insulin.

GOAL A1C (Glycaemia Optimization with Algorithms and Labs At Po1nt of C are), a large-scale study to assess innovative approaches available to primary care physicians to help their patients reach an A1C<7.0 per cent. The GOAL A1C trial started in April 2002 and will enroll more than 14,000 type 2 diabetes patients in 3,500 primary care physicians’ offices in the United States.