December 7, 2006
BACKGROUND ON TCOYD-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michele D. Huie
858-755-5683 huie@tcoyd.org

In response to the diabetes epidemic resulting in a significant increase in death and costly complications nation-wide, a new television series has been developed for UCTV entitled "Taking Control of Your Diabetes." The 12 episode series, hosted by Steven V. Edelman, MD, and guests including medical professionals and patients, presents information on prevention, detection, and aggressive management of diabetes.

TCOYD TV is produced by Heidi Rataj at the University of California, San Diego. The program airs throughout the country on UCTV and its affiliates with a prospective audience of 11.5 million viewers.

UCSD Professor of Medicine, Steven V. Edelman, MD, and founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes said, "The Taking Control of Your Diabetes television series continues TCOYD's 11-year history of promoting education, motivation and self-advocacy to improve the lives and health of people living with diabetes." He continued, "This series reflects the growing realization within the medical professional community and the patient community that the treatment of diabetes will improve in this country when the people struggling with the disease themselves better understand why and how to deal with it. This understanding can't come from a 15 minute doctor visit."

Edelman was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 15. Graduating valedictorian with his MD from UC-Davis in 1982, Edelman completed his diabetes specialty training at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Since 1990 he has practiced and taught at both UCSD and the Veterans Affairs Health System. He is an internationally-recognized leader in diabetes treatment, research and education.

In 1995, Edelman founded Taking Control of Your Diabetes, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating and motivating people with diabetes to take a more active role in their own health care. The not-for-profit has brought 78 educational conferences to date to over 100,000 people with diabetes in cities across the nation. These conferences feature leading experts in diabetes care presenting latest developments in treatments and therapies of diabetes, and its complications.

The first episode of TCOYD's television series aired September 21st on UCSD MD-TV. In the series, Steven V. Edelman, M.D., discusses the different types of diabetes, their causes, and highlights innovative treatments, medications and technologies. In the second episode (October 19th) Edelman meets with guest William Polonsky, PhD, CDE, of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute, and discusses emotional barriers people face in taking control of their diabetes. In the third episode (November 16), Edelman talks with Drs. Larry Verity and Sheri Colberg on the importance of exercise in the prevention and control of diabetes. The fourth episode will air December 21st and will feature podiatrists Ingrid Kruse, DPM and Craig Wargon, DPM, with Edelman, reviewing essential foot care and common foot problems of people with diabetes.

In San Diego, watch UHF, Channel 35; Cox--San Diego, Channel 66; Cox--North County, Channel 69; or Time Warner, Channel 18. For channel program and information outside San Diego, visit www.tcoyd.org.

This outreach is made possible by the support of TCOYD's premier sponsors and the University of California.

Founded and directed by Steven V. Edelman, MD, an endocrinologist with type 1 diabetes himself, TCOYD is a San Diego, California-based 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to educating and motivating people with diabetes, and their loved ones, to take a more active role in their condition in order to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

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