FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., July 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD Medical- Diabetes Care, a unit of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) , along with North General Hospital in East Harlem, New York, today released the successful results of the New York City BD Diabetes Makeover Program. The six participants from New York City each achieved successful outcomes, demonstrating the positive impacts of the comprehensive team approach to diabetes care.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060717/NYM157 )
This is the fourth iteration of the BD Diabetes Makeover Program since it began in 2004. To date, all 19 participants have achieved successful results, while 18 remain in good control and a part of the program.
“East Harlem is located at the epicenter of the diabetes epidemic in New York City, so we are very pleased with the results of this effort. Our success here, coupled with other recent BD makeover successes, shines a spotlight on the value of the team approach to diabetes care and how comprehensive, collaborative management of the disease can help people live healthier lives,” said Valentine J. Burroughs, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at North General Hospital and member of the NYC Diabetes Dream Team.
In a letter, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated BD, North General Hospital, the BD Diabetes Dream Team and the participants for the success of the program.
The New York City participants completed the intensive 11-week portion of their program on Saturday, June 24, 2006. All participants realized a significant decrease in blood glucose values as measured by A1C in a 3-month period of time and experienced a trend toward normalization of weight and a reduction in some lipid values (which are used to measure cholesterol levels). All of these changes are usually associated with a reduction in risk for diabetes complications. (Please see attached chart for details.)
All participants also reported a change in their eating and exercise behaviors and a sense of feeling better and having more energy. The participants all reported greater confidence in their abilities to control their diabetes and more positive outlooks than they had at the beginning of the program. The participants were very pleased with their achievements and look forward to remaining a part of the BD Diabetes Makeover Program going forward.
The program began the weekend of April 7, 2006, when the six New York City residents underwent an 11-week program led by the NYC BD Diabetes Dream Team. The team, compiled by BD, consists of some of New York City’s leading clinical, diabetes education, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle organization experts, assembled specifically for this program. The participants received comprehensive health and lifestyle evaluations and were provided with a personalized care plan to improve their diabetes control.
Each personalized plan includes medication regimens, education on diabetes self-management practices, fitness recommendations, nutrition guidance and lifestyle management skills. As participants worked to incorporate healthy life habits into their daily routine, they received ongoing support from the BD Diabetes Dream Team.
“We are very proud of these results and continue to be inspired by the program’s success,” said Bill Marshall, President of BD Medical-Diabetes Care. “Our participants are role models for all people with diabetes, and we hope their success can continue to help us foster greater dialogue among diabetes care companies, healthcare providers and the community at large on how we can begin to apply this successful model on a broader scale.”
The BD Diabetes Makeover Program draws on the inspiration of Gary Hall, Jr., the Olympic Gold Medal swimmer, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999. Gary, who plays an active role in the program, spent a day at North General Hospital meeting with the members of the BD Diabetes Dream Team, the participants and local school children, to share his personal story. For more information on the BD Diabetes Makeover Program, the NYC Diabetes Dream Team, and program participants, or to find out how to apply for the next BD Diabetes Makeover Program, please visit: http://www.bd.com/diabetes_makeover.
About BD
BD, a leading global medical technology company that makes and sells medical devices, instrumented systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving people’s health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Company’s capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world’s most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs more than 25,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit http://www.bd.com.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060717/NYM157AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgAP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comBD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
CONTACT: Michael Marinello, BD Public Relations, +1-201-847-7437,Michael_Marinello@bd.com
