Bob Harper and Erik, Winner of the 'The Biggest Loser,' Visit Kansas City on Dec 20 to Help Residents 'Step Up' Their Diabetes Management

Bob Harper and Erik, Winner of the 'The Biggest Loser,' Visit Kansas City on Dec 20 to Help Residents 'Step Up' Their Diabetes Management

Harper and Kansas City Diabetes Expert Introduce Recommendations for People

With Type 2 Diabetes: '6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control'

WHAT: As part of the major national educational campaign Diabetes &
You: Step It Up to Get It Down, renowned life and fitness coach
Bob Harper will visit Kansas City on December 20th to encourage
local residents with type 2 diabetes to better manage their
disease. Harper will be joined by Erik Chopin, the winner of tv's
The Biggest Loser. Harper and a panel of diabetes experts
convened by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
(AACE) developed the easy-to-understand and motivational 6.5
Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control.

The 6.5 Steps underscore the importance of reaching the AACE
target A1C goal of 6.5% or less for most people through the
cornerstones of effective diabetes management -- eating healthy,
being physically active, monitoring blood sugar, seeing a doctor
or other healthcare professional, and, when appropriate, taking
one or more medicines.

WHY: The Diabetes & You: Step It Up to Get It Down campaign was
developed in response to a first-of-its-kind report issued last
year by AACE showing that two out of three Americans with type 2
diabetes analyzed in a study were not in control of their blood
sugar.

In the state of Missouri, approximately 290,000 people are
diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form
of diabetes and accounts for nearly 90 to 95% of all diagnosed
diabetes cases. According to the AACE Report, approximately 58%
of people with type 2 diabetes in the city of Kansas City
analyzed in a study were not in control of their blood sugar.

Anyone interested in learning more about better diabetes
management can call 1-877-6-5-STEPS or visit
http://www.stepitupdiabetes.com/.

WHO: Available for interviews:

Bob Harper -- Life and fitness coach from "The Biggest Loser"

Erik Chopin -- Winner of "The Biggest Loser"

Richard Hellman, MD, FACP, FACE -- Clinical Professor of
Medicine, University of
Missouri-Kansas
City School of Medicine
President-Elect, American
Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists (AACE)

WHEN: Wednesday, December 20, 2006

CONTACT: For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact
Doris Li at 212-798-9814.

GlaxoSmithKline has provided funding and other support to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) for the Diabetes & You: Step It Up to Get It Down campaign.

PRNewswire -- Dec. 18

Source: GlaxoSmithKline

Web site: http://www.stepitupdiabetes.com/

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