WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AstraZeneca today announced the extension of its free diet and lifestyle support program, Fit2MeTM, to include resources for patients who face challenges associated with cardiovascular risk and disease. In the United States today, approximately 27 million people are living with type 2 diabetes. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or a stroke than adults without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are complex and chronic conditions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help people manage their diabetes and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
With this addition, Fit2Me now provides consumers with a customized plan tailored to their unique combination of health challenge areas across five of the most prevalent conditions or diseases in the United States, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. Fit2Me also personalizes each user’s plan to accommodate their food and activity preferences.
As part of Fit2Me’s extension, a new and enhanced tool has also been added that can help users stay on track and find diabetes-friendly and heart-healthy meal options while preparing last-minute meals at home. The new Fit My Fridge feature helps people build healthy meals using ingredients they already have on hand. This update allows for more flexibility in meal planning to accommodate people with busy schedules who may not have time to plan for every meal. With this feature, users type in the foods they have on hand and then Fit2Me selects recipes using those chosen ingredients.
Fit2Me has attracted more than 1.4 million visitors since its launch in 2014 and continues to be a valued resource in the diabetes community. The additional cardiovascular components differentiate Fit2Me from other support programs and make it one of the only health management tools that allows people to create a customized diet and exercise plan based on food and exercise preferences as well as health challenge areas.
William E. Boden, MD, Scientific Director, Clinical Trials Network, VA Boston Healthcare System said, “People living with cardiovascular disease frequently deal with a wide range of risk factors that impact everyday health but, importantly, many of these risk factors are modifiable. These risk factors may include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. It is critical to manage patients comprehensively with both secondary prevention treatments and lifestyle intervention. A program like AstraZeneca’s Fit2Me customizes support so that patients can more effectively manage complexities associated with their chronic conditions as well as achieve and sustain lifestyle changes that fit naturally within their daily lives.”
The free customizable program focuses on four key areas of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease management – food, activity, support team and treatment support – and offers encouragement from digital coaches who help people through the process of improving their health and fitness while celebrating successes along the way.
Jim McDermott, Vice President, U.S. Medical Affairs, Diabetes, AstraZeneca, said, “AstraZeneca recognizes that type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are complex, multi-faceted conditions that affect millions of Americans and require individualized management approaches. By expanding Fit2Me’s offerings to people living with or at risk for cardiovascular disease, we’re able to provide the resources and support needed to help improve the overall health of each patient.”
With Fit2Me, people have access to more than 10,000 diabetes-friendly and heart-healthy recipes, based on criteria from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Heart Association (AHA). They’ll also have access to more than 500 physical activities and focused exercises through the Fit2Me database, all free with no obligation.
Fit2Me is available at www.Fit2Me.com and is now in mobile-friendly formats for users on the go with both Android and iOS apps available for download.
As with any diet and lifestyle program, it is important for people to consult their doctors before beginning any exercise or nutrition program.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About AstraZeneca in Diabetes
AstraZeneca is pushing the boundaries of science with the goal of developing life-changing medicines that aim to reduce the global burden and complications of diabetes. Our commitment to diabetes is exemplified by the depth and breadth of our global clinical research program. AstraZeneca is committed to advancing understanding of the treatment effects of our diabetes medicines in broad patient populations, as well as exploring combination treatment approaches to help more patients achieve treatment success earlier in their disease progression. Our ambition is to reduce the long-term impact of diabetes. As a core strategic area for the company, we are focusing our research and development efforts in diverse populations and patients with significant co-morbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and chronic kidney disease.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Respiratory and Autoimmunity, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, and Oncology. The company is also active in inflammation, infection and neuroscience through numerous collaborations. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com
