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Diabetics create market for themselves

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Entrepreneurs and patients are using television to capitalize on a growing market, the increasing population of diabetics in the United States.

The CNBC program "dLIfe" is geared specifically to diabetics. Developed and hosted by diabetics, the show endorses diabetes-related products and promotes healthy lifestyles, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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In the past decade, celebrities have found the marketing potential of the disease. Actor Wilford Brimley, blues great B.B. King and singer Patti LaBelle have been seen on television promoting products and lifestyles to manage diabetes.

The marketing potential for diabetes related matters is attributed to the fact that the disease, unlike Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, is treatable and conquerable through lifestyle changes. This is especially true for Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly brought on by obesity.

Product endorsements and programs like "dLife" are expected to become progressively more successful as the diabetic population risers, the newspaper said.

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