Like the world’s oceans, our bodies contain many small islands. Located in the pancreas, these islets are called islets of Langerhans. They play an important role in glucose regulation and a compromise of their function accompanies the onset and progression of diabetes. Protection of the islet cells is especially important for Koreans who have weak islet cell function, yet little attention has been paid to their existence and importance in diabetes treatment. Galvus, a DPP-4 inhibitor developed by Novartis Korea, has been shown to preserve islet cell function, but due to a complex mechanism of action, communicating its strengths was a challenge. In response, we created the "I Love Islet Campaign" with the goal of improving understanding of Galvus’s mechanism of action and the importance of protecting the islet cells. We visited small remote isles with healthcare professionals, providing medical care to residents who were otherwise without adequate healthcare. We also encouraged villagers to light blue lights symbolizing hope, and offered an online education program to physicians. Through these activities designed to protect Korea’s isles from diabetes, we educated the public, the media and healthcare providers about the isles in our body which also require our attention and protection.

- We offered online lectures for physicians for over a year and raised money from the participants. The donations went to an NGO devoted to protecting island areas and provided medical care to island residents with diabetes.- We visited the islands of Dok-do, Ulleung-do, and Gapa-do in the far east and south, providing free diabetes education, care and checkups as well as diabetes management kits and financial support to villagers in remote areas which remain medically underserved. - Residents, local healthcare professionals, and members of the Korean Diabetes Association and the NGO participated in a "Blue Lighting Ceremony," a global campaign designed to represent the world’s commitment to fight diabetes.- Coverage of the "I Love Islet Campaign" included pictures, interviews, press releases and feature articles, all of which highlighted that Galvus, a DPP-4 inhibitor, is an effective anti-diabetic treatment that helps protect the pancreatic islet cells.

- For sales results, please refer to the confidential information section- The campaign was covered by the media 476 times, resulting in over 100 million impressions (138,007,963). This is equivalent to every Korean being exposed to campaign-related articles more than twice (Korean Population: 48 million).

- About 280 physicians participated in the interactive online diabetes education, and also made donations.