American Diabetes Association Launches My Health Advisor -- Online Calculator That Shows Risk for Diabetes, Heart

ALEXANDRIA, VA, Jul 30 (MARKET WIRE) --
With an estimated 57 million Americans with pre-diabetes, the American
Diabetes Association today launches My Health Advisor, an online tool
that helps people understand their personal risk for developing type 2
diabetes, heart disease and stroke. My Health Advisor is available at
CheckUpAmerica.org/MHA.

My Health Advisor takes into account a person's specific risk factors,
such as family history and lifestyle choices, as well as other factors
like access to health care, to determine their risk for developing
diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The online calculator immediately
reflects and readjusts a person's risk outcome based on small changes
they make in their lives, such as losing 5-10 pounds, quitting smoking or
taking a daily aspirin.

Unlike other online health calculators, My Health Advisor uses the
powerful and unique health simulation program, Archimedes. Archimedes
pulls together large amounts of clinical research data to make highly
accurate predictions about a person's health risks. The software creates
a virtual reality in which all relevant factors that can impact a
person's health in the real world match the factors in the simulated
world. To further ensure accurate assessments, the results have been
compared directly with real-life clinical trial results and have a nearly
perfect correlation with the outcomes of actual patients.

Results from a 2008 Omnibus survey conducted by the Association indicate
that the majority of adults ages 40 and older are at risk for type 2
diabetes and heart disease. Furthermore, those surveyed do not acknowledge
their control over developing these conditions, and see little motivation
to lose weight and lead healthier lives.

"Type 2 diabetes is preventable with healthy lifestyle choices. With 1.6
million new cases of diabetes diagnosed each year and heart disease and
stroke accounting for 2 out of 3 diabetes-related deaths, the need to
educate people about and accurately assess their risk of developing these
diseases is at an all time high," said Peter Sheehan, M.D., CheckUp
America committee chair. "My Health Advisor is an extremely powerful tool
that we can use to help people not only understand their risk, but take
proactive steps to a healthier life."

Users of My Health Advisor benefit from a customized risk assessment and
personalized prevention tips for living healthier lives and taking action
to reduce the risk of developing life-threatening diseases. Clinicians can
also use My Health Advisor with their patients to develop prevention plans
with their patients.

For more information on My Health Advisor and to access the online
calculator, visit CheckUpAmerica.org/MHA.

My Health Advisor is an activity of the American Diabetes Association's
Cardiometabolic Risk Initiative, which is supported by unrestricted
educational grants from Eli Lilly and Company, Merck/Merck-Schering Plough
Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc.,
sanofi-aventis and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America.

About CheckUp America

CheckUp America is a national prevention initiative of the American
Diabetes Association aimed at helping people learn how to lower their risk
for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Recent research suggests many
people believe lifestyle changes to reduce risk are "too hard,"
indicating they are uninformed about the small steps that can be taken to
reduce their disease risk. Thankfully, changes to improve heart health
aren't too hard -- they just require a little knowledge and determination.

To understand your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it's
important to know your risk factors. Some risk factors can be managed
(modifiable factors) because you can take action against them. Other
factors cannot be changed (non-modifiable factors) because they are
naturally specific to each individual.

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly
consequences of diabetes 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. Founded in 1940, our mission is 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.

Contact:
Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374

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