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The American College of Endocrinology & Merck Urge Patients with Type 2 Diabetes to Work with Their Doctor to Get to Their Blood Sugar Goals

Today, the American College of Endocrinology (ACE), with support from Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has launched the new Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals program to help educate the nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes about proper blood sugar management. The Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals program was developed with the help of clinical endocrinologist, Dr. Etie Moghissi, to provide people living with type 2 diabetes with approachable and easy-to-follow “missions” that encourage them to know their A1C, to work with their doctor to set an A1C goal that is appropriate for them, and to create a personalized treatment plan to help them reach that goal.

A1C is an estimate of a person’s average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends that many people with diabetes have an A1C of 6.5 percent or less. A higher A1C goal may be appropriate for some people, so it’s important for individuals living with diabetes to talk to their doctor about what A1C goal is right for them.Nearly half are not at an A1C of 6.5 percent or less.

The program is comprised of three “missions,” which help patients living with type 2 diabetes recognize that diabetes is a progressive disease, and that by working with their doctor to make adjustments to their diabetes management plan, the program can help them get to their blood sugar goals:

  • Mission No. 1-- Gather Intelligence: Get Organized Talk To Your Doctor
  • Mission No. 2-- Finalize Strategy: Set Goals Commit To A Plan
  • Mission No. 3-- Regroup: Check In With Your Doctor Assess Your Progress

“As a clinical endocrinologist, I know that managing type 2 diabetes can be overwhelming, and while high blood sugar levels over time can lead to serious health problems, such as blindness, amputation, heart disease and stroke, many patients do not think about these long term issues,” explains Etie Moghissi, MD, FACP, FACE. “People living with type 2 diabetes can help reduce their risk of serious complications by setting individual goals to manage the ABC’s of diabetes – A for A1C, also known as blood sugar, B for blood pressure and C for cholesterol. That’s why I direct my patients to educational tools like the Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals program, to help them understand the importance of working with their diabetes healthcare team to properly monitor all aspects of the disease and evaluate their treatment plan on an ongoing basis, to help them achieve their A1C goal.”

The program encourages people with type 2 diabetes to take a more active role in managing their disease by talking with their doctor about establishing and reaching a personal A1C goal. Achieving blood sugar control is a crucial part of a successful diabetes management plan, which often includes lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, and medications, when prescribed. That’s why the program also focuses on raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of high and low blood sugar. Many people with diabetes are aware of the importance of controlling high blood sugar, but it’s also essential to understand why blood sugar can sometimes get too low.

“We are pleased to continue educating healthcare providers and their patients through this important educational resource, which is designed to positively enhance the physician-patient dialogue around blood sugar management,” said AACE President, Dr. Jeffrey Mechanick. “This year’s Blood Sugar Basics program has evolved to emphasize, in an accessible and engaging way, the need for people living with type 2 diabetes to work with their doctor to set and attain their own A1C goal.”

The Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals program offers customized content for people living with type 2 diabetes, their diabetes healthcare team (primary care providers, endocrinologists and/or diabetes educators), and their friends and family, that breaks down diabetes management in an easy, approachable way. Patients living with type 2 diabetes can complete their Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals patient “missions” by visiting BloodSugarBasics.com. The website also offers additional educational and interactive resources to help guide day-to-day disease management, including a weekly meal planner and activity tracker, questions to ask your doctor, a checkup chart and videos with tips for blood sugar management.

 

About Dr. Etie Moghissi

Etie Moghissi, MD, FACP, FACE, is an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles and is involved in patient care in private practice in Marina del Rey, California. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and is a member of the board of trustees of the American College of Endocrinology (ACE).

 

About Dr. Jeffrey Mechanick

Jeffrey I. Mechanick, MD, FACP, FACE, FACN, ECNU is the 2013-2014 AACE President, and Clinical Professor of Medicine Director of Metabolic Support in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY in New York City. He is Past President of the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists. Dr. Mechanick has authored over 200 publications in Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition Support.

 

About Blood Sugar Basics

Blood Sugar Basics is an educational program aimed to help people living with type 2 diabetes, their families and loved ones learn about the importance of knowing their A1C and managing their blood sugar levels as part of a successful diabetes treatment plan. The program was developed by the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and supported by Merck. Blood Sugar Basics: Get to Your Goals, on BloodSugarBasics.com, is a user-friendly, three-“mission” program to help people with type 2 diabetes get to goal by knowing their A1C and talking to their diabetes healthcare team about setting and attaining an A1C goal that is right for them.

 

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)

The American College of Endocrinology is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, a community of endocrinologists who are leaders in comprehensive diabetes care and education. ACE is dedicated to promoting clinical endocrinology, patient education and the improvement of patient care. 

 

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.

 

 

Media Contacts:  

ACE/AACE:     Glenn Sebold

                         (904) 703-2020

 

 Merck:         Tina Grasso

                       (267) 893-9783