Bayer helps raise awareness of diabetes in Parliament

The IDF diabetes awareness days, held on January 24th and 25th, were attended by 225 Parliamentary staff at Westminster, including 68 Members of Parliament (MP).

Diabetes is a significant and growing health issue, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. The IDF believes that, unless action is taken, this could rise to 500 million within a generation . Together with organisations like Bayer, the IDF is working to improve awareness of the diabetes pandemic and the critical interventions necessary to counter it. Around 2.9 million people have diabetes in the UK, but it is estimated that a further 850,000 people may be living with the condition without realising it . This means that around 1 in 16 people in the UK are living with the disease or roughly 3,700 in a constituency like Newbury, where Bayer has its UK headquarters.

MPs attending the Parliamentary awareness days were able to have a diabetes test, as well as discuss the disease with a healthcare professional.

Sir Michael Hirst, President-Elect of the IDF, said: “We welcome the support of the participating MPs in raising awareness of diabetes through our Parliamentary event. Last November, millions of people around the globe came together to mark World Diabetes Day. We hope that events such as our Parliamentary awareness days help create further awareness in the UK of the condition and its consequences.”

A Bayer spokesperson, added: “As a market leader in the field of blood glucose monitoring systems, Bayer is delighted to be involved in the International Diabetes Federation awareness day. Diabetes is a serious issue affecting people throughout the UK. By working closely with Members of Parliament, we hope they will take the message back to their constituents and aid in raising awareness.”

ENDS

Contact:

Andrea Postles, Tel. 01635 563 031 E-Mail: andrea.postles@bayer.com

Craig Mowat, Tel. 01635 563 523 E-Mail: craig.mowat@bayer.com

Note to Editors

Bayer Diabetes Care Bayer Diabetes Care is dedicated to providing blood glucose meters and support materials designed to simplify the lives of people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals. Bayer produces several blood glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes, these are:

• CONTOUR® - a blood glucose monitoring system that help patients manage their condition with the freedom to enjoy their everyday lives.

• CONTOUR® USB - the first blood glucose meter with on-board diabetes management software to help people with diabetes view their blood glucose results and track trends.

• CONTOUR® Link – wirelessly transmits blood glucose results to a compatible Medtronic diabetes device.

• BREEZE®2 - a blood glucose monitoring system with a 10-test disc that delivers results in just five seconds, without the need to worry about individual test strips.

About Bayer HealthCare

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 16.913 billion (2010), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55.700 employees (Dec 31, 2010) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time Bayer creates value through innovation, growth and high earning power. The Group is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In fiscal 2010, Bayer in the UK and Ireland, employed more than 1,200 people and had sales of £770m. Bayer’s offices are in Newbury (head office), Cambridge, Dublin, Uxbridge, Sheffield and Norwich.

For more information, go to www.bayer.co.uk

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Globally, in fiscal 2010, Bayer employed more than 110,000 people and had sales of €35.1 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.6 billion, R&D expenses to €3.1 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

References

International Diabetes Federation, World Diabetes Day – key messages, November 2011. Available at: http://www.idf.org/worlddiabetesday/2009-2013/key-messages Diabetes UK, What is Diabetes, January 2009. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Introduction-to-diabetes/What_is_diabetes/