WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.,
June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck
(NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the
United States and Canada,
and actress S. Epatha Merkerson are
bringing the America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals
program to Washington, D.C. to
encourage African Americans with type 2 diabetes to know their A1C
-- their average blood sugar level over the past two to three
months -- and talk to their doctors about setting and attaining a
personal A1C goal. Merkerson, one of the 4.9 million
African-American adults living with type 2 diabetes, will attend
the American Diabetes Association's Live Empowered event in
Washington, D.C. at the Kreeger
Theater at Arena Stage on June 26 to
share her story.
For many people with diabetes, it is recommended by the American
Diabetes Association (ADA) that they have an A1C of less than 7
percent to help reduce the risk of complications. For certain
individuals, a higher or lower A1C may be more appropriate, which
is why it is important for people with diabetes to speak with their
health care providers to discuss the A1C goal that is right for
them. Nearly half of people with diabetes have an A1C greater than
7 percent.
Merkerson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2003 after
having her blood sugar tested at a health fair event and being
urged to see her doctor. Despite having 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 that goal. By sticking
to that plan -- and making changes with her doctor when necessary
-- Merkerson has kept her blood sugar under control.
"I lost my father and grandmother to complications of type
2 diabetes," says Merkerson, "so I learned firsthand how important
it is to know your A1C and make a commitment to get to your goal.
That's why I'm excited to work with Merck on America's Diabetes
Challenge to help urge African Americans to learn about proper
blood sugar management and inspire them to set and attain their own
A1C goal."
Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern in the
African-American community. In fact, nearly 20 percent of the adult
African-American population has diabetes. Diabetes is the fourth
leading cause of death in the community. Nearly 9 percent
(age-adjusted) of the population of Washington, D.C. has diabetes, and
the African-American community comprises about 50 percent of the
city's population.
"Many people with type 2 diabetes do not realize that high blood
sugar levels over time can lead to serious long-term health
problems," said David A. Charles,
MD, Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Rockville, Maryland. "Meal planning, exercise,
and medication, when prescribed, are all important to help people
reach their A1C goal. Because diabetes is a progressive disease,
sometimes adjustments to the treatment plan are necessary.
America's Diabetes Challenge will help inform African
Americans with diabetes in Washington,
D.C. about the importance of working with their doctors to
create an individualized treatment plan that is right for them,
then track the progress and adjust the plan, if needed, to help
them get to their A1C goal."
Most people with diabetes are aware of the importance of
controlling high blood sugar, but it's also important for them to
understand why blood sugar can sometimes go too low. For people on
certain diabetes medications, low blood sugar can be caused by
skipping meals or excessive exercise and can make you feel shaky,
dizzy, sweaty, hungry, and sometimes, faint. Make sure your doctor
explains the signs and symptoms of high and low blood sugar to you
and let him or her know if you are experiencing any of those
symptoms.
As part of the America's Diabetes Challenge program,
Merkerson will be participating in the American Diabetes
Association's Live Empowered event in Washington, D.C. on June 26 at the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage to
share her story and encourage attendees with type 2 diabetes to
pledge to work with their doctors to know their A1C and set and
attain their own A1C goal. Friends and family can also pledge to
challenge their loved ones to get to their A1C goal. People with
type 2 diabetes who take the challenge can stay motivated by
completing missions and accessing resources available on
www.AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com that will help them work with
their doctor to come up with an individualized treatment plan that
is right for them.
"We are excited to work with Merck and S. Epatha Merkerson to include America's
Diabetes Challenge as part of our Live Empowered event," said
Mary Merritt, Executive Director,
American Diabetes Association, National Capital Area. "The American
Diabetes Association is committed to raising awareness of diabetes
and providing relevant resources for people with the condition to
help them get to their treatment goals. This program is providing
important information for African Americans living with type 2
diabetes, as well as their friends and family."
For more information about Merkerson's story, the America's
Diabetes Challenge program, and to make a pledge to set and
attain your own blood sugar goals, 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 later this year will be returning to the
theatre in the New York debut of
While Yet I Live, by Kinky Boots star Billy Porter. Merkerson was diagnosed with type
2 diabetes in 2003 and is now working with Merck on America's
Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals to provide resources that
help people with type 2 diabetes talk to their doctors, develop an
individualized treatment plan, and stick to that plan.
About America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your
Goals
America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals is an
educational program from Merck urging people with type 2 diabetes
to know their A1C and talk to their doctor about setting and
attaining their own blood sugar goals. For more information on
America's Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals, and to
pledge to work with your doctor to reach your blood sugar goals,
visit www.AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com.
About Type 2 Diabetes
Twenty-nine million people in the
United States have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of these people
have type 2 diabetes. One in three American men and 2 in 5 American
women born in the United States in
the year 2000 will develop diabetes sometime during their
lifetime.
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 sugar levels to become too high, and
the body may also keep making sugar even though it does not need
it. Once a person has type 2 diabetes, it does not go away, and
high blood sugar levels over time can lead to serious health
problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
People with type 2 diabetes can help reduce their risk of
serious complications by setting individual goals to manage the
ABCs of diabetes -- A for A1C, also known as blood sugar, B for
blood pressure and C for cholesterol.
It is recommended that many people with diabetes have an A1C of
less than 7 percent to help reduce the risk of complications, and
nearly half of people with diabetes are not at an A1C of less than
7 percent. A higher or lower A1C may be appropriate for some
people, which is why it is important for people with diabetes to
speak with their doctors about what goal is right for them.
About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare 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 consumer care 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 healthcare
through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more
information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube.
Merck Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States
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's 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. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2013 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 Contact: Michael Close
(310) 617-1067
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SOURCE Merck