Newswise — Etoy/ Boston – (April 7, 2014) – Sunstar Inc., a Switzerland-based, leading company in oral health care and one of the first businesses to emphasize an integrated approach to the relationship between oral health and systemic disease, and Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research and clinical care organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes, have renewed their commitment to the Joslin Sunstar Diabetes Education Initiative (JSDEI).

JSDEI began in 2008 with the goal of raising awareness about the association between diabetes and oral health. Aimed at professionals from the medical and dental community as well as patients and the general public, JSDEI plans two symposia in Frankfurt and Beijing in the fall of 2014, and will hold three additional symposia in 2015 elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Since 2008, several high-level scientific JSDEI seminars have been held internationally, including in Japan, the United States and Europe. The seminars have attracted key opinion leaders in the fields of periodontology, dentistry and dental hygiene, medicine and internal medicine, diabetology, endocrinology and nutrition.

Recognizing that early and proper treatment of periodontal disease can have a profound effect on the control of diabetes and its complications, Sunstar and Joslin have engaged in education and research to improve knowledge and practices.

“Patients benefit greatly from this innovative, interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of diabetes,” noted Judith Eyres Goodwin, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Joslin Diabetes Center. “Joslin is proud of the work we have done together with our strategic partner, Sunstar, raising the knowledge level of dental and medical professionals about the benefit of a holistic approach to diabetes care for their mutual patients, and the emphasizing the importance of early detection and treatment.”

Mr. Masakazu Nakamura, Member of the Board, Sunstar SA, commented, “Sunstar is pleased to continue our pioneering work with Joslin as our global strategic partner on this vital program, educating clinicians and patients about the strong link between oral health and diabetes. We look forward to this phase of our relationship, and to continuing to make a real difference in people’s lives through expanding our collaborative activities to new areas in Europe and Asia.”

About Sunstar

Sunstar, headquartered in Etoy, Switzerland, is one of the leading companies in the world when it comes to oral health care. Its brands include G.U.M., Butler and Ora2 for preventative products and GUIDOR in the treatment field. The company was founded in 1932 and today, Sunstar is one of the world’s leading companies in the oral and health care sector and an important player in the fields of health and beauty care, the environment and quality of life. The company is also a global leader in the field of safety support & high technology. Its products and services are sold in over 90 countries across the world. For more information, please see www.sunstar.com

About Joslin Diabetes Center

Joslin Diabetes Center, based in Boston, Massachusetts, undertakes diabetes research, clinical care, education and health and wellness programs on a global scale. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real progress in preventing and curing diabetes. Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and is recognized worldwide for driving innovative solutions in diabetes prevention, research, education, and care.

Our mission is to prevent, treat and cure diabetes. Our vision is a world free of diabetes and its complications. For more information, visit www.joslin.org.