Dr. Isaacs to Appear on Radio Shows this Sunday, October 8, 2006

(You can also listen over the internet...)

Dr. Scott Isaacs will be interviewed on the "Community Perspective" radio show with Kellie Alexander this Sunday, October 8, 2006 on the following stations:

WFSH 104.7 FM at 6:00 AM www.thefishatlanta.com

WGKA 920 AM at 12:30 PM www.920wgka.com

WNIV 970 AM at 6:00 PM www.wniv.com

WLTA 1400 AM at 6:00 PM www.wniv.com

If you don't live in the Atlanta area, you can listen over the internet (website links listed above).

The topic of the radio show is the TEAM approach to diabetes. The Diabetes TEAM ( Together Everyone Achieves More) campaign was launched in May, and it's mission is to publicize that type 2 diabetes care can be enhanced by regular treatment from a team that aligns the latest in science, treatment options and education around lifestyle behavior.

Currently, more than 486,000 people in Georgia are living with type 2 diabetes and many struggle to control the disease. This number is equivalent to more than the population of Atlanta (416,474). Managing type 2 diabetes is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year challenge and, for these patients, an expanded diabetes care team consisting of healthcare professionals in the Atlanta community is critical to improve disease management and outcomes.

The Diabetes Roundtable, a multidisciplinary group of diabetes experts convened by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), with support from Merck & Co., Inc., met earlier this year to discuss the current state of diabetes management. The Roundtable called for patients and their healthcare providers to develop a collaborative, team approach to better manage type 2 diabetes. Now these experts are working with local experts to encourage Atlantans with type 2 diabetes to work with their healthcare providers to develop a team of their own. Roundtable members agreed that care for people with type 2 diabetes could be enhanced by regular interaction with a team that aligns the latest in science, treatment options and education around lifestyle behavior change.

National Survey Shows Patient/Physician Disconnect on Disease Management

A Harris Interactive® survey commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) suggests a disconnect between what patients with type 2 diabetes and primary care physicians who treat the disease believe is the state of diabetes management. For example, two-thirds of patients (69 percent) say they feel very knowledgeable or knowledgeable about managing their condition. At the same time, 81 percent of physicians surveyed say they are frustrated with the number of their type 2 diabetes patients who do not follow their treatment regimen exactly as prescribed. The survey also shows gaps in understanding of the disease itself. Half of patients surveyed say they have little or no understanding of their A1C level or in the past six months have not had it checked or are unsure if they have had it checked. A1C is basic lab test for evaluating glucose control, an important aspect of diabetes management.

"We are not using all of the means we have available to us for managing type 2 diabetes. All too often patients bear the burden of guilt; physicians feel distressed and aggravated; it's a losing situation for everyone," said Amparo Gonzalez, RN, BSN, CDE. "More and more we realize the value that a team-based approach, one involving the patient, primary care physician, diabetes educator, behavioral scientist, and endocrinologist, provides to best manage the disease."

Ms. Gonzalez also encourages patients to play an active role in their diabetes management .

"While the effort of a team of professionals is critical, it's imperative for diabetes patients to take an active role in the management of their disease by consulting with their physician about what more they can do." Gonzalez said. "People with type 2 diabetes can enjoy a better quality of life by working with their diabetes team."

For further information on the Diabetes Team approach and survey results visit www.diabetesteamsite.com