Diabetes is one of the most rapidly rising health ailments in the United States, with 1.2 million new cases diagnosed every year.1 However, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), adopting healthy eating patterns can make a sizeable impact on your health, and when paired with increased physical activity and managing stress, has the potential to cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half. 

Danone North America is launching "Danone Group Chat: Type 2 Diabetes Nutrition Edition" – a multi-faceted educational campaign across retail and digital media. The initiative aims to help people take better control of their health by meeting them where they're naturally seeking out nutrition information and solutions.

As part of the effort, Danone North America will host an expert-led "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session on Reddit to help spread awareness of the role nutrition can play in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, in addition to offering diabetes-focused continuing education opportunities for health care professionals and offering additional resources to consumers throughout the month. During the AMA, consumers will have free access to registered dietitian and diabetes expert Mary Ellen Phipps alongside registered dietitian Amanda Blechman, director of nutrition & scientific affairs at Danone North America, as they answer the Reddit community's burning questions about nutrition and type 2 diabetes.

"One of my passions is helping to make it easier for people to take control of their health, through simple, actionable advice," said Amanda Blechman, registered dietitian and director of nutrition & scientific affairs at Danone North America. "We know that Reddit has become a powerful hub for health conversations, and a place people go to search for information, so I'm looking forward to using this platform to get to meet consumers where they're actively seeking health resources, with evidence-based facts they can trust."

As part of its mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, Danone North America is at the forefront of unlocking the health benefits of yogurt. In March 2024, the US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first-ever qualified health claim for yogurt in response to a petition by Danone North America. The claim in its entirety states, "Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to limited scientific evidence." This claim provides practical, actionable information for Americans to help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through an easily achievable, realistic dietary modification.

Danone North America is also working to meet the evolving needs of consumers through innovation, offering delicious options that support people's health goals, including Light + Fit Original, Light + Fit Greek, Oikos Triple Zero, Activia Zero 0g Added Sugar, Activia Proactive, and Dannon Plain Low-fat and Nonfat yogurt. When portioned according to the ADA's Diabetes Plate, yogurt is considered a quality carbohydrate. And, it is important for people to select yogurt that has lower or no added sugar.

1 American Diabetes Association. Statistics About Diabetes. Retrieved on October 30, 2023 from: https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes