(BPT) - A veteran of both screen and stage, legendary actor James Earl Jones is well known for playing iconic characters over the course of his career. But 20 years ago, he was taken by surprise with a role he never anticipated playing—living with type 2 diabetes. Now, by joining forces with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the American Diabetes Association^®, James Earl hopes to engage and inspire the estimated 28 million Americans with the condition.^[i] At ICanImagine.com, visitors can hear more from James Earl and receive diabetes management tips tailored to their unique leading role through a fun, interactive quiz.

James Earl acknowledges that managing type 2 diabetes can be frustrating at times. “I’ve tried many medications to help manage my blood sugar,” he notes, “and I’ve been in close contact with my doctors to find a solution that worked best for me.” James Earl’s doctor suggested INVOKANA^® (canagliflozin), which helped him to lower his A1C and in turn, make healthier choices. “That’s why for the first time, I have decided to come forward and share my story to help others take control of type 2 diabetes and imagine loving their numbers.”

By working with his doctor, James Earl took control of his health. “Because of INVOKANA^®, my doctor and I were happy, I got my A1C to 6.9 and I even lost some weight.” Taking control has helped him love his numbers and continue doing the things he loves, whether spending time outside with family or taking center stage. “When your numbers move in the right direction, it motivates you. For me, it was like a reset.”

INVOKANA^® is a once-daily pill used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. In most clinical trials, the majority of people taking INVOKANA^® reached an A1C goal of less than 7.0, a goal recommended by the American Diabetes Association. INVOKANA^® works with the kidneys to help adults with type 2 diabetes lose some sugar through the process of urination. In clinical trials, treatment was also shown to reduce body weight and systolic blood pressure, and was generally well tolerated.* The most common side effects of INVOKANA^® include genital yeast infections, urinary tract infection, and changes in urination.^[ii] These specific adverse events were generally mild to moderate in intensity in clinical studies. Not for lowering weight or systolic blood pressure. Results may vary by dose and when used with certain other diabetes medications.

Through December 31, 2016, every time someone takes the “What’s Your Leading Role in Type 2 Diabetes Management?” quiz at ICanImagine.com, donations will be made to the American Diabetes Association’s education, research, awareness, and advocacy initiatives. Additionally, if quiz results are shared on social media, a second donation will be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Join the casting call to discover your leading role. Determine if you are a quick-thinking team player, or perhaps a logical problem-solver, and let James Earl support you in playing an active role in diabetes management. Take the quiz today and find out if you are the Investigator or the Explorer, the Captain or the Mastermind, the Hero or perhaps the Innovator—like James Earl Jones.  

Visit www.INVOKANA.com to learn more about type 2 diabetes, the INVOKANA^® CarePath™ support program, and even how to lower costs of treatment.

WHAT IS INVOKANA^®?

INVOKANA^® is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. INVOKANA^® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in blood or urine). It is not known if INVOKANA^® is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

INVOKANA^® can cause important side effects, including:

• INVOKANA^® can cause some people to become dehydrated (the loss of too much body water), which may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, lightheaded, or weak, especially when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). You may be at higher risk of dehydration if you have low blood pressure, take medicines to lower your blood pressure (including diuretics [water pills]), are on a low sodium (salt) diet, have kidney problems, or are 65 years of age or older
• Vaginal yeast infection. Women who take INVOKANA^® may get vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms include: vaginal odor, white or yellowish vaginal discharge (discharge may be lumpy or look like cottage cheese), or vaginal itching
• Yeast infection of the penis (balanitis or balanoposthitis). Men who take INVOKANA^® may get a yeast infection of the skin around the penis. Symptoms include: redness, itching, or swelling of the penis; rash of the penis; foul-smelling discharge from the penis; or pain in the skin around penis

Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get symptoms of a yeast infection of the vagina or penis.

Do not take INVOKANA^® if you:

• are allergic to canagliflozin or any of the ingredients in INVOKANA^®. Symptoms of allergic reaction may include: rash; raised red patches on your skin (hives); or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis

Before you take INVOKANA^®, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems; liver problems; history of urinary tract infections or problems with urination; are on a low sodium (salt) diet; are going to have surgery; are eating less due to illness, surgery, or change in diet; pancreas problems; drink alcohol very often (or drink a lot of alcohol in short-term); ever had an allergic reaction to INVOKANA^®; or have other medical conditions.

Tell your doctor if you are or plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. INVOKANA^® may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking INVOKANA^®, tell your doctor right away. INVOKANA^® may pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed while taking INVOKANA^®.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take diuretics (water pills), rifampin (used to treat or prevent tuberculosis), phenytoin or phenobarbital (used to control seizures), ritonavir (Norvir^®, Kaletra^® – used to treat HIV infection), or digoxin (Lanoxin^®– used to treat heart problems).

Possible Side Effects of INVOKANA^®

INVOKANA^® may cause serious side effects, including:

• Ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine). Ketoacidosis has happened in people who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, during treatment with INVOKANA^®. Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening and may need to be treated in a hospital. Ketoacidosis can happen with INVOKANA^® even if your blood sugar is less than 250 mg/dL. Stop taking INVOKANA^® and call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, tiredness, or trouble breathing
• Kidney problems. Sudden kidney injury has happened to people taking INVOKANA^®. Talk to your doctor right away if you: 1) reduce the amount of food or liquid you drink, if you are sick, or cannot eat or 2) you start to lose liquids from your body from vomiting, diarrhea, or being in the sun too long
• A high amount of potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia)
• Serious Urinary Tract Infections: may lead to hospitalization and have happened in people taking INVOKANA^®. Tell your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of a urinary tract infection such as: burning feeling while urinating, need to urinate often or right away, pain in the lower part of your stomach (pelvis), or blood in the urine. Some people may also have high fever, back pain, nausea, or vomiting
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take INVOKANA^® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin, your risk of getting low blood sugar is higher. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine or insulin may need to be lowered while you take INVOKANA^®

Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, or feeling jittery.

Serious allergic reaction. If you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, stop taking INVOKANA^® and call your doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Broken Bones (fractures): Bone fractures have been seen in patients taking INVOKANA^®. Talk to your doctor about factors that may increase your risk of bone fracture.

The most common side effects of INVOKANA^® include: vaginal yeast infections and yeast infections of the penis; changes in urination, including urgent need to urinate more often, in larger amounts, or at night.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC at 1-800-526-7736.

Please see full Product Information and Medication Guide.

Canagliflozin is licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.

Trademarks are those of their respective owners.          

053652-160523                              

*Not for lowering weight or systolic blood pressure. Results may vary by dose and when used with certain other diabetes medications.

052393-160502

[i] American Diabetes Association. Fast Facts Data and Statistics about Diabetes. December 2015. http://professional2.diabetes.org/admin/UserFiles/0%20-%20Sean/Documents/Fast_Facts_12-2015a.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2016.

[ii] INVOKANA (canagliflozin). “Prescribing Information.” https://www.invokana.com/prescribing-information.pdf. Accessed May 2, 2016.