HEALTH

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — Abbott and its foundation, the Abbott Fund, on Friday announced that $1 million in funding and product donations will be made to support relief efforts in response to Hurricane Sandy. The Abbott Fund grants will be provided to long-standing relief organization partners, including the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Direct Relief International and World Vets. 

Abbott product donations have been made to Direct Relief International and Feeding America.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — A majority of Americans recognize the threat diabetes poses to the nation’s health and have a solid understanding about the disease and its consequences, according to a new survey from UnitedHealth Group released Thursday. 

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Emerson Ecologics, a provider of professional-grade nutritional supplements to practitioners, on Thursday announced its partnership with Douglas Laboratories as its exclusive external distributor for the Klean Athlete line to healthcare practitioners. 

Klean Athlete is a new line of nutritional supplements formulated specifically for athletes to help them achieve optimum health; the complete line is NSF-certified for sport, ensuring that each product has undergone testing and certification to be free of banned substances.

INDIANAPOLIS – Eli Lilly is spending $140 million to expand its insulin manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, the drug maker said.

Lilly said it would expand the plant by 80,000 sq. ft., saying it represented one of the most significant investments in its U.S. manufacturing operations in the past decade. Construction is expected to start immediately, with completion planned for March 2014.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Nordic Naturals on Wednesday announced the launch of its mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android users. 

“Nordic Naturals is an omega-3 industry leader,” stated Joar Opheim, CEO of Nordic Naturals. “We are pleased to lead the way in offering the convenience of a mobile app to consumers.”

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through donations totaling $150,000 from the Bayer USA Foundation. 

The American Red Cross and Save the Children will each receive $75,000. 

“When millions of people are affected by devastation in the form of natural disasters, it is important to be able to provide assistance to families and communities in a time of great need,” stated Tracy Spagnol, chairperson of the Bayer USA Foundation.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears and Kmart are offering more than a quarter-million dollars in rewards for members of their loyalty program and sending emergency equipment from 42 distribution centers in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, parent company Sears Holdings said.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has announced that it is partnering with the American Diabetes Association as the sponsor of "A Day in the Life of Diabetes" campaign — a photo-sharing campaign on the ADA's main Facebook page.

The CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare Advantage for Diabetes program will donate $1 to the American Diabetes Association for every photo or image uploaded, up to $25,000. CVS/pharmacy will also co-host a Twitter chat on Nov. 15 with Dr. Elizabeth Seaquist, VP medicine and science for the ADA.