BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sanofi-aventis U.S. announced today that GoMeals™, a new iPhone application (app) designed to help people living with diabetes make healthy food choices, is now available for download at the iTunes App store. GoMeals™ is a food tracking tool which allows users to search thousands of foods and dishes from popular restaurants and grocery stores to easily see the nutritional content of meals and snacks.
"The GoMeals™ app was created by and for people with diabetes in consultation with leading diabetes and nutrition experts," said Jerry Durso, Vice President, Specialized Therapeutics Business Unit, sanofi-aventis U.S. "The diabetes community is thriving online and new innovations like GoMeals™ are a direct result of input from people who are writing about the challenges of living with the condition on blogs, forums and other social media platforms."
Though it is primarily designed for people living with diabetes, GoMeals™ can be used by anyone who is interested in tracking the nutritional content of their meals.
The GoMeals™ "Today's Plate" feature helps monitor each day's calorie intake, as well as the distribution of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. These three nutrient categories are also represented in a pie chart on the touch screen. Foods are selected from the CalorieKing™ nutritional database, which contains more than 25,000 common food items and more than 200 restaurant menus. A restaurant locator feature helps users locate restaurants based on their current location and the type of cuisine they prefer. And if the user is not at a restaurant but simply preparing a meal at home, GoMeals™ makes it easy to add individual ingredients to the plate so users can keep track of the nutritional content of any meal.
Along with the app, sanofi-aventis U.S. has launched a Twitter presence at http://twitter.com/GoMeals to encourage conversation amongst users of the app.
"The development of new technologies like GoMeals™ is part of a broader trend in the diabetes community," said Carolyn Silverman, RD, CDE, Senior Field Training Manager, CDE HELP Team. "More than at any time in the past, people with diabetes are taking the lead in defining the tools and resources they want and expect from companies that make diabetes products."
GoMeals™ is the second new online offering for people living with diabetes developed by sanofi-aventis U.S. this year. A "GoInsulin" YouTube™ channel (www.youtube.com/goinsulin) that provides information and success stories about insulin therapy was launched in February 2009.
To follow the conversation about the GoMeals™ app online, visit http://twitter.com/GoMeals.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells of the body for energy. More than 230 million people worldwide are living with the disease and this number is expected to rise to a staggering 350 million within 20 years. It is estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, including an estimated 5.7 million who remain undiagnosed. At the same time, about 40 percent of those diagnosed are not achieving the blood sugar control target of A1C <7 percent recommended by the ADA. The A1C test measures average blood glucose levels over the past two- to three-month period.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis U.S. is an affiliate of sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to help improve the lives of patients. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (Euronext: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
For more information, www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.sanofi-aventis.com
U.S. Contact:
Carrie Melia
Carrie.melia@sanofi-aventis.com
908-981-6486
US.GLA.09.10.001
© 2009 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
SOURCE: sanofi-aventis U.S.
Web site: http://www.sanofi-aventis.us/