KENILWORTH, N.J., July 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck (NYSE:
MRK), known as MSD outside the United
States and Canada, the
American Diabetes Association and actress S. Epatha Merkerson are bringing America's
Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals to Raleigh, N.C. The program is designed to help
African Americans with type 2 diabetes work with their doctor to
set and reach their A1C goal. A1C is a person's average blood
glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. The program also
encourages them to learn if they are at risk of low blood glucose
and how to help reduce that risk. Merkerson will attend the
Association's Live Empowered event in Raleigh at the Trent Semans Center for Health
Education Great Hall at Duke University
on July 15 to share her story and to
help people living with diabetes learn about the importance of
working with their doctor to establish their own A1C goal and
develop a personalized diabetes management plan.
About one-third of adults living with diabetes are not at their
A1C goal. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people
with diabetes have an individualized A1C goal, which for many
adults is less than 7 percent. Other people with diabetes may
have a higher or lower A1C goal, so it is important to talk to your
doctor about the goal that's right for you. People with diabetes
should understand why blood glucose can sometimes go too low, known
as hypoglycemia. Low blood glucose can make people feel shaky,
dizzy, sweaty, and sometimes faint. If left untreated, low blood
glucose may lead to a seizure or loss of consciousness.
"I lost my father and grandmother to complications of type 2
diabetes, so I understand that high blood sugar levels over time
can lead to serious health problems," says Merkerson. "I've also
learned that it's important to understand why blood sugar can
sometimes go too low. I'm excited to partner with Merck and
the American Diabetes Association on America's Diabetes
Challenge to raise awareness about proper blood sugar
management."
Merkerson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2003 after
having her blood glucose tested at a health fair event and being
urged to see her doctor. Despite a family history of the disease,
Merkerson was unaware she had type 2 diabetes. After her diagnosis,
Merkerson became serious about her health and worked with her
doctor to establish her own A1C goal and develop a personalized
diabetes management plan, which included diet, exercise and
medication, to help her achieve her A1C goal. By sticking to that
plan—and making changes with her doctor when necessary—Merkerson
has kept her blood glucose under control.
"America's Diabetes Challenge will help people living
with diabetes understand the importance of working with their
doctor to set and reach their A1C goal," says Dr. Robin S. Goland, M.D., Co-Director; Naomi Berrie
Diabetes Center at Columbia University
Medical Center. "It's also important for people with diabetes to
learn if they are at risk for low blood glucose and how to help
reduce that risk. Some diabetes medications can cause low blood
glucose, particularly if patients skip meals, change their diet, or
increase their exercise."
Diabetes is a significant concern in the African-American
community, as approximately 13 percent of all African-American
adults have been diagnosed with the disease. In fact, diabetes is
the fourth leading cause of death in the African-American
community, and African Americans are also more likely than other
ethnic groups to experience serious long-term health problems over
time from the disease. Nearly 10 percent of the adult
population of North Carolina has
been diagnosed with diabetes.
"We're excited to include America's Diabetes Challenge as
part of our Live Empowered event," said Jim
Straight, Executive Director, Eastern North Carolina, American Diabetes
Association. "The American Diabetes Association is committed to
raising awareness of diabetes and to providing relevant resources
for people with the condition to help them get to their treatment
goals. This program provides important information for African
Americans living with type 2 diabetes, as well as for their friends
and family."
For more information about Merkerson's story and America's
Diabetes Challenge, visit www.AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com.
You can also join the America's Diabetes Challenge community
by visiting Facebook.com/AmericasDiabetesChallenge.
About S. Epatha
Merkerson
S. Epatha
Merkerson is a celebrated film, stage and television actress
known for her long-running role as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren in the television series Law
& Order. Merkerson has won multiple awards, including an
Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and NAACP Image Award for
her work in Lackawanna Blues. Merkerson has also been
nominated twice for a Tony Award and recently performed in the
New York premiere of While I
Yet Live, by Kinky Boots star Billy Porter. After working many years together
on Law and Order, Ms. Merkerson is now reuniting with
Executive Producer Dick Wolf on his new NBC series Chicago
Med, premiering in Fall 2015.
About America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your
Goals
America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your
Goals is an educational program from Merck and the American
Diabetes Association urging people with type 2 diabetes to work
with their doctor to set and reach their individual A1C goal. The
program also helps people with type 2 diabetes learn if they are at
risk of low blood glucose and how to help reduce that risk. As part
of Merck's partnership with the American Diabetes Association, and
to further support the millions of Americans living with type 2
diabetes, America's Diabetes Challenge will be featured at
American Diabetes Association EXPOs and Live Empowered and Feria de
Salud events throughout the U.S. For more information about
America's Diabetes Challenge, to make the pledge to work
with your doctor to set and reach your own A1C goal or challenge
loved ones to do the same, visit www.AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com.
You can also join the America's Diabetes Challenge community
by visiting Facebook.com/AmericasDiabetesChallenge.
About Type 2 Diabetes
Nearly 30 million Americans
have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of these people have type 2 diabetes.
When someone has type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough
insulin and/or the insulin that the body makes does not work
properly. This causes blood glucose levels to become too high, and
the body may also keep making glucose even though it does not need
it. Once a person has type 2 diabetes, it does not go away, and
high blood glucose levels over time can lead to serious health
problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American
Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its
consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The
Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes;
delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective
and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their
rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has
been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all
people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the
American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or
visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is
available in English and Spanish.
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global health care
leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD
outside the United States and
Canada. Through our prescription
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health
products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140
countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also
demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care
through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more
information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.
If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or
uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general
industry conditions and competition; general economic factors,
including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care
legislation in the United States
and internationally; global trends toward health care cost
containment; technological advances, new products and patents
attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product
development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck's
ability to accurately predict future market conditions;
manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of
international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the
effectiveness of Merck patents and other protections for innovative
products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent
litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law.
Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found
in Merck's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available
at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).
Media
Contacts:
|
Kristen
Drake
|
Merck
|
908-236-4223
|
|
|
Justin
Thomas
|
American
Diabetes Association
|
919-743-5400, ext.
3217
|
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SOURCE Merck; American Diabetes Association