[March 23, 2006]

Tips for Helping People With Diabetes Live a Healthy Life, From Consumer Reports Medical Guide; Best Available Advice on Prediabetes, Treatments, Avoiding Complications

(Ascribe Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NEW YORK -- Diabetes doesn't go away, and if left untreated, can cause serious health problems. But lifestyle changes, medication and careful monitoring of glucose levels can help people with diabetes live a long, healthy life. To coincide with American Diabetes Alert Day (March 28), ConsumerReportsMedicalGuide.org presents free information about diabetes diet, risk factors, screening, helping people avoid or control pre-diabetes, different treatment options for type 2 diabetes - the most common form - and evidence-based comparisons for which treatments work best (http://www.consumerreports.org/mg/free-highlights/manage-your-heal th/di abet es_crh.htm).

Nearly 20 million Americans - about 7 in every 100 people - have diabetes. About one-third of people with diabetes don't know they have it because their blood sugar has not been checked. In addition, government estimates suggest roughly 41 million adults in the U.S. have pre-diabetes or impaired fasting glucose, a condition that raises a person's risk of developing full-blown diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Many cases of pre-diabetes are preventable, since it usually occurs in people who are obese and who don't get enough exercise. To help people understand their risk for diabetes, http://www.consumerreportsmedicalguide.org recommends measuring blood sugar at least once every three years starting at age 45, and starting younger or testing more often if the following risk factors apply:

- Systolic blood pressure above 130 (the first number in a reading)

- High levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol (130 mg/dl or above) or low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol (35 mg/dl or less in men, 45 mg/dl or less in women)

- Excess weight (indicated by a body mass index above 25)

- A parent or sibling with diabetes

- Race other than Caucasian

- Diabetes during pregnancy or delivery of a baby weighing 9 pounds or more

- History of polycystic-ovary syndrome

According to Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., chief medical adviser, Consumers Union "Aggressive treatment of diabetes with drugs saves lives and prevents complications, yet many people still fail to control their disease adequately. People with diabetes face many obstacles to staying healthy - including managing multiple medications and adhering to strict dietary limitations - but it is possible." He adds, "For people with diabetes or at risk of developing the disease, it is critical to make rigorous lifestyle changes, understand available treatment options and take charge of their health."

To help consumers sort through various options, an easy-to-read comparison chart illustrating the effectiveness of different diabetes treatments is available at http://www.consumerreports.org/mg/free-highlights/manage-your-healt h/dia bete s_type2.htm. Treatments_that_workAccording to Consumer Reports Medical Guide, diabetes treatments that work include the use of blood glucose lowering drugs such as metformin (Fortmet, Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos) that lower insulin resistence and sulfonylureas, a class of drugs that includes glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL) and glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase) that help the pancreas make more insulin.

Taking two pills together (such as metformin combined with another drug) or using insulin to control blood glucose levels might be effective, but the risks of these treatment approaches may outweigh benefits.

Consumer Reports Medical Guide, a subscription-based online service with rich, continuously updated content for non-subscribers as well, provides information on over 100 common and chronic health conditions, with sections explaining how each condition is diagnosed, what symptoms manifest, what to expect, what treatments are available, and specific questions to ask your doctor. Consumer Reports Medical Guide offers consumers independent, trustworthy, and thorough information on the best treatments and prescription drugs with no advertising influence. Consumers Union has a long history of providing independent information on a variety of health and medical issues through Consumer Reports magazine and the Consumer Reports On Health newsletter.

Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., chief medical adviser, Consumers Union, is available for interviews.

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CONTACTS: Lindsay Anderson, gabbegroup, 212-220-4444, Lindsay.Anderson@gabbe.com

Olivia Goodman, gabbegroup, 212-220-4444, Olivia.Goodman@gabbe.com

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