As part of the major nationwide educational campaign Diabetes & You: Step It Up to Get It Down, life and fitness coach Bob Harper will visit Los Angeles to encourage local residents with type 2 diabetes to better manage their disease. 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 patients 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. To encourage area residents to “Step It Up,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has declared the week of October 30, 2006 “Diabetes Control Week” in Los Angeles, dedicated to improving blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.

“Type 2 diabetes affects millions of Americans and is an epidemic,” said Bob Harper. “Through my years of coaching and training, I’ve worked with many people with type 2 diabetes and seen how hard it can be to live with this condition. But I learned that anyone can change their life. It’s all about finding the right tools and motivation. I’m challenging people with type 2 diabetes to step it up and use the 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control. It’s your body — take charge today!”

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 — failing to meet the AACE-recommended A1C goal of 6.5% or less for most patients. According to the report, in California alone, more than one-third of people with type 2 diabetes who were analyzed in the study were not in control of their blood sugar. The A1C test measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over the previous two to three months. The A1C test complements blood sugar monitoring that patients do on their own, which shows a blood sugar level at the time the test is taken.

“Making the decision to take control of the disease is one of the most important things a person with type 2 diabetes can do to properly manage the condition and ultimately reduce the risk of long-term complications associated with the disease,” said Dr. Michael Bush, Past Clinical Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “The 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control provide patients with recommendations that they can realistically incorporate into their daily routine. It’s a great tool to motivate patients to partner with their doctor or other healthcare professional to make better health choices and bring their blood sugar levels under control.”

Approximately 1,769,850 people in California are diagnosed with diabetes, and over 18 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not respond properly to its own natural insulin, a condition called insulin resistance. Insulin helps the cells convert blood sugar to energy. When sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, it can starve the cells of energy and, over time, high blood sugar levels can cause diabetes-related complications, affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.