Eli Lilly launches Diabetes Conversations initiative

Eli Lilly has announced the launch of its patient-focused Diabetes Conversations initiative which aims to improve the educational experience of patients and healthcare professionals worldwide.

The first offering of the programme are the Conversation Map tools created by education leader Healthy Interactions in partnership with the European region of the International Diabetes Federation.

It includes a 1m by 1.5m visual guide to stimulate questions between healthcare professionals and diabetes patients to foster improved dialogue.

Eli Lilly claim millions of people worldwide will gain access to novel resources to aid them in their daily challenges of living with diabetes.

The programme will first be launched in Europe, before expanding to Latin America and Asia by the end of 2009.

Eberhard Standl, president of IDF Europe, said: “Educators need novel tools and resources to extend our capacities to influence patient behaviour and change the course of diabetes.”

He added that the organisation hopes the introduction of the Conversation Map would boost the quality of life of millions of diabetes sufferers across Europe.

Earlier this month, Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals announced positive results of a head-to-head study comparing Byetta (exenatide) injection with Januvia (sitagliptin) in patients with type 2 diabetes.