Acclaimed Singer and 'Touched By An Angel' Star Della Reese Urges Dallas Residents To Be Stronger Than Diabetes

Acclaimed Singer and 'Touched By An Angel' Star Della Reese Urges Dallas Residents To Be Stronger Than Diabetes

Della Reese Will Share Her Personal Experience with Type 2 Diabetes at the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Expo

DALLAS, Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a nationwide educational campaign, actress and singer Della Reese is visiting Dallas to encourage residents with type 2 diabetes to aggressively manage their disease. Della will be speaking at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Diabetes Expo to share her practical and personal advice for living with type 2 diabetes, including information about healthy meal planning, regular physical activity, medications, and the importance of addressing insulin resistance, an underlying cause of type 2 diabetes. Della is the spokesperson for the "Della Reese: Stronger Than Diabetes" campaign.

The Diabetes Expo is a day-long event that offers attendees with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes access to educational lectures, professional consultations, free health screenings, as well as exercise and cooking demonstrations. The Diabetes Expo is being held on Saturday, March 5th from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Dallas Convention Center. Della Reese will speak to conference attendees at 12:15 p.m. and she will be at the GlaxoSmithKline booth to sign photographs following her presentation. Dallas residents can learn more about the Diabetes Expo by logging on to http://www.diabetes.org/dallasexpo.

"When I found out I had type 2 diabetes, I was upset because I knew nothing about the condition and I had nothing to fight it with," said Della Reese. "I have since learned that I have the power to make meaningful changes in my life and that my diabetes management plan plays a big part in staying happy and healthy."

Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in the United States, with approximately 17 million Americans currently diagnosed with the disease. An estimated 1.5 million Texans are affected by diabetes, of which more than one-third remain undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels, which occur when the body cannot make enough insulin or does not respond normally to the insulin it makes, a condition called insulin resistance. The hormone insulin, which is made in the pancreas, helps the body to change food into energy.

Diabetes is primarily a self-managed disease in that patients are responsible for following their healthcare professional's recommended lifestyle and medication plan. In fact, more than 95 percent of diabetes care is in the hands of the patient. Unfortunately, however, approximately 50 percent of patients do not take their medication as prescribed and healthcare professionals have little control over patient behavior between office visits.

"If you take an active role in managing your disease, you can be stronger than diabetes. I'm living proof!" said Della Reese. The "Della Reese: Stronger Than Diabetes" campaign is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline.

"Take Della's Challenge: Be Stronger Than Diabetes"

People interested in learning more about type 2 diabetes can receive a one-of-a-kind copy of Take Della's Challenge: Be Stronger Than Diabetes, a booklet filled with quick tips and true-life advice on managing type 2 diabetes as well as Della's favorite diabetes-friendly recipes. Also included is a free motivational music CD to encourage a more active lifestyle featuring one of Della Reese's songs. The free booklet and CD can be obtained by calling the toll-free number 1-866-463-6342 or by visiting http://www.delladiabetes.com/.

As part of her visit to Dallas, Della will share what she has learned from her healthcare team about managing type 2 diabetes:

* Talk about it - now! Ask your healthcare professional about aggressively managing your diabetes and insulin resistance, a major underlying cause of the disease. * Set goals. Test your blood sugar levels regularly. Also, to make sure you're in control, have your doctor test your A1C level (a marker of long-term blood sugar control). The American Diabetes Association recommends a target A1C level of less than 7 percent. * Keep a healthy, balanced meal plan. There's no single, "right" diabetes diet. Work with your healthcare professional to develop a plan suited to your personal needs. * Get moving. After talking to your doctor, start a physical activity program that incorporates your everyday activities, like walking the dog, gardening or taking the stairs. Exercise can help with weight loss as well as reducing insulin resistance. * Stick with it. Follow your recommended meal plan, stay active and, when appropriate, take your medication regularly as prescribed by your healthcare professional. If you don't, you may be at risk for serious diabetes-related complications.

"The American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Expo provides people with diabetes, those at risk for diabetes and anyone interested in healthy living, with a wealth of diabetes-related services and information under one roof," said Dana McCormick, Dallas ADA Expo chairperson and volunteer. "Della Reese is a wonderful example of someone who is really fighting the disease head-on. As a result, her blood sugar levels are in control and she enjoys a healthy, active lifestyle. I'm confident that others will find her story motivational."

About The Sponsor

"Della Reese: Stronger Than Diabetes" is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Source: GlaxoSmithKline

CONTACT: Bernadette King of GlaxoSmithKline, +1-215-751-7709; or Randi Goldman of Cohn & Wolfe Healthcare, +1-212-798-9558, for GlaxoSmithKline

Web site: http://www.delladiabetes.com/ http://www.diabetes.org/dallasexpo

------- Profile: Ent