Millions of Americans live with type 2 diabetes—A division 1 football family shares how they tackle the disease head-on

(BPT) - The following story was prepared and sponsored by Novo Nordisk. Calvin, Patrice, and Cam Ward are paid spokespersons of Novo Nordisk.

Picture this-you're a D1 starting quarterback preparing for your upcoming game. Football has been a part of your life for longer than you can remember, so going over your pre-game to-do list is second nature: organizing equipment, memorizing plays, watching film, and making sure schoolwork doesn't fall to the wayside. These are typical bullets on a football player's list and are top-of-mind daily. But there's one more item on the list for Cam Ward: checking in with his parents, Patrice and Calvin, who live with type 2 diabetes, to make sure they're staying healthy and on track to come to his next game. After all, they've never missed one.

The Wards are highlighting type 2 diabetes as a critical issue affecting far too many. More than 38 million Americans live with diabetes,¹ with the vast majority (~90%-95%) having type 2 diabetes.² Roughly 20% of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed.¹ The Ward family's story is a window into the power of community, family, and faith when managing type 2 diabetes.

A Family United by Faith, Football, and Firm Persistence

With deep-rooted faith, tight-knit family bonds, and dedication to football, the Ward family is a beacon of resilience and determination. Cam Ward, now a starting division 1 college quarterback, is not only a force on the field but also a supportive son, brother, and champion of his family's health. Just as Cam is making his mark on the football field, his parents, Calvin and Patrice, are also making an impact in their community. They are just as active, organizing sports camps and fundraisers in their community and volunteering at their church. Together, Calvin and Patrice go the extra yard when it comes to managing their type 2 diabetes-from doing their best to prioritize healthy eating and staying active, even when on the road, to working with their healthcare professional. And Cam supports from the sidelines, checking in daily and making sure they stay on track. It's clear the teamwork spirit is central to their family playbook.

"Our family does everything together," said Cam. "Whether it's traveling, watching sports, having family meals together, or going to church. We're a team, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Facing the Challenge Head-On

Patrice was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 15 years ago. Despite initial uncertainties, she found strength in her family and faith, navigating her condition while staying active in her community. But the Ward family took another hit when Calvin received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2019.

"Calvin's diagnosis was shocking. When he was hospitalized, his blood sugar levels were so high that doctors struggled to get a reading," said Patrice. The Wards now want to share their story to help inform and foster discussions about type 2 diabetes.

The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes

Two in five Americans will develop type 2 diabetes,³ and even when meeting A1C goals, adults living with type 2 diabetes are still at risk for major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death.^4-5 For Black Americans like the Wards, the numbers are even more staggering: in the U.S., Black adults are nearly twice as likely as white adults to develop type 2 diabetes.⁶

"The unfortunate reality is that Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by common risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Michael Radin, Executive Medical Director at Novo Nordisk. "We must work together to address this concerning reality and improve this trend, using every opportunity to educate each other on the risks associated with type 2 diabetes."

Tackling Type 2 Diabetes: A Treatment Plan that Works

For the Wards, finding a reliable type 2 diabetes management plan was the most crucial play. With guidance from their trusted healthcare professional, Patrice and Calvin have both, along with diet and exercise, lowered their A1C with Ozempic^® (semaglutide) injection. Millions of people with type 2 diabetes have taken Ozempic^® as part of their type 2 diabetes management plan.

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What is Ozempic^®?

Ozempic^® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used:

along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes
to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease

It is not known if Ozempic^® can be used in people who have had pancreatitis.
Ozempic^® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes.
It is not known if Ozempic^® is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.

Important Safety Information

Do not share your Ozempic^® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.

What is the most important information I should know about Ozempic^®?

Ozempic^® may cause serious side effects, including:

Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Ozempic^®and medicines that work like Ozempic^® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Ozempic^® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
Do not use Ozempic^®if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

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The Power of Community

Whether cheering on Cam at the football field or volunteering in their community, the Wards hope to empower others to prioritize and take control of their type 2 diabetes.

"From my own experience, I learned quickly that type 2 diabetes symptoms should not be ignored," said Calvin. "When it comes to your health, it's important to take control from the start and talk to your doctor about a treatment plan that works for you. My hope is that this story can help those, who may be ignoring their type 2 diabetes symptoms, avoid what I went through."

A 2022 survey found that nearly 55% of men do not get regular health screenings.⁷ Taking care of your health means seeking help-by fostering open dialogue with healthcare professionals, friends, and family about type 2 diabetes, and exploring its risks, hereditary aspects, and associated complications.

"Though my story is unique to me, I want others with type 2 diabetes to see what's possible with the power of community," Patrice says. "I hope our story shows that supporting each other should be a fundamental part of your type 2 diabetes game plan."

To learn more about the Ward family, type 2 diabetes, and Ozempic^®, visit Real Ozempic^® Stories on Ozempic.com.

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Important Safety Information (continued)

Do not use Ozempic^® if:

you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have MEN 2
you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Ozempic^®. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in "What are the possible side effects of Ozempic^®?"

Before using Ozempic^®, tell your health care provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:

have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys.
have a history of diabetic retinopathy.
are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. It is not known if Ozempic^® will harm your unborn baby or passes into your breast milk. You should stop using Ozempic^® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and other medicines to treat diabetes, including insulin or sulfonylureas.

What are the possible side effects of Ozempic^®?

Ozempic^® may cause serious side effects, including:

inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Ozempic^® and call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back
changes in vision. Tell your health care provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Ozempic^®
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Ozempic^® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery
kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration
serious allergic reactions. Stop using Ozempic^® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat
gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who take Ozempic^®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms which may include: pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools
food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Ozempic^® may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Ozempic^® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures

The most common side effects of Ozempic^® may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation.

Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

References

CDC. National diabetes statistics report. Diabetes. Published 2024. Accessed September 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data research/index.html.
CDC. About Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes. Published 2024. Accessed October 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/abouttype2 diabetes.html
CDC. 2 in 5 Americans Expected to Develop Diabetes. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Published 2022. Accessed October 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/communicationresources/2in5 americans.html#:~:text=Graphic%20text%3A%202%20in%205,2%20diabetes%20in%20their%20lifetime.
American Heart Association. Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes. www.heart.org. Published 2021. https://www.heart.org/en/health topics/diabetes/diabetescomplicationsandrisks/cardiovasculardiseasediabetes
Martín-Timón I, Sevillano-Collantes C, Segura-Galindo A, Del Cañizo-Gómez FJ. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Have all risk factors the same strength?. World J Diabetes. 2014;5(4):444-470. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i4.444
Association of Modifiable Risk Factors in Young Adulthood With Racial Disparity in Incident Type 2 Diabetes During Middle Adulthood. Bancks MP, Kershaw K, Carson AP, GordonLarsen P, Schreiner PJ, Carnethon MR. JAMA. 2017 Dec 26;318(24):24572465. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.19546. PMID: 29279935.
Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic Survey Reveals Men's Top Health Concerns as They Age. Accessed September 2024. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2022/09/07/clevelandclinicsurveyrevealsmenstophealthconcernsastheyage

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