Ascensia Diabetes Care and Jumo Team Up to Make Learning About Diabetes Engaging for Canadian Kids

NEW YORK and MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 1, 2017 /CNW/ - In an effort to help kids understand their type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Ascensia Diabetes Care and health education company Jumo are teaming up to create engaging, creative, and age-appropriate materials for kids.

Sponsored by Ascensia Diabetes Care, Jumo, through its signature comic book line and superhero characters called the Medikidz, is creating two new comic books for Canadian children living with diabetes, Medikidz Explain Blood Glucose Meters and Medikidz Explain Type 1 Diabetes.

In the introductory book, Medikidz Explain Blood Glucose Meters we meet Kate, who has just been diagnosed with diabetes and given a blood glucose meter. The Medikidz arrive to explain how both the meter and the related app work to keep her informed and healthy.

Through the follow up book, Medikidz Explain Type 1 Diabetes, the fictional main character, Ashleigh, is playing hide and seeks with friends.  Suddenly she becomes dizzy and realizes that she forgot to take her insulin. She is whisked away to the fictional Mediland, where the Medikidz explain her condition, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

"Many diagnosed with a chronic, life-long health condition, such as diabetes, may feel afraid, overwhelmed, confused, and often dejected, and those feelings can be exacerbated for children," said Kevin Aniskovich, Jumo's Chief Executive. "Our hope is that our fun, educational approach will help kids not only understand their type 1 diabetes, but successfully manage their disease with confidence as they move forward."

"We are excited about our partnership with Jumo," says Russ Newsome, Region Head, Americas, Ascensia Diabetes Care.  "Katie and Ashleigh's stories are not unusual for children living with diabetes. Our goal is to support these children so they can live successfully with diabetes, better manage their daily routine and still lead extraordinary lives."

The introductory book was distributed in April, while the Medikidz Explain Type 1 Diabetes comic book will become available this summer. To learn more, please visit: www.contourpowerpack.ca.

About Ascensia Diabetes Care

Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global specialist diabetes care company, dedicated to helping people living with diabetes. Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes through innovative solutions that simplify and improve their lives. We use our innovation and specialist expertise in diabetes to develop high quality solutions and tools that make a positive, daily difference for people with diabetes.

Home to the world renowned CONTOUR® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems, our products combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionality that help people with diabetes to manage their condition. We are committed to continued research, innovation and development of new products and solutions. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision and reliability, and that we conduct our business compliantly and with integrity.

Ascensia Diabetes Care was established in 2016 through the sale of Bayer Diabetes Care to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. Ascensia Diabetes Care products are sold in more than 125 countries. Ascensia Diabetes Care has around 1,700 employees and operations in 33 countries.

For further information please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care Canada website at: http://www.ascensiadiabetes.ca

^®TM see www.ascensiadiabetes.ca/tm-mc

About Jumo
Jumo is a global health care education company with offices in New York, London, and Sydney. Founded by a doctor who wanted to alleviate the fear and uncertainty of children that often accompanies a clinical diagnosis, Jumo creates comic books, videos, podcasts, and apps that help children and their families better understand and manage their health and wellness. Our products provide individuals with the ability to learn in their way, on their terms, throughout their medical journey.

To learn more about Jumo, please visit JumoHealth.com.

Medikidz, Jumo, and the Jumo motion logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Medikidz USA, Inc.

SOURCE Ascensia Diabetes Care

For Ascencia Diabetes Care Canada, [phone], [email protected]; For Jumo Emily Burkhardt, [phone], [email protected]