Jewel-Osco® Offers FREE "Eating Healthy with my Diabetes™" Store Tours

ITASCA, Ill., April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and an estimated 79 million have pre-diabetes(1), JEWEL-OSCO, part of the nationwide SUPERVALU® INC. (NYSE: SVU) family of grocery stores, is announcing its "Eating Healthy with my Diabetes™" in-store tours for 2011. The free educational tours are designed to help customers learn to choose better-for-you foods and eat healthfully, while incorporating foods they love into their meal plans.

Specially-trained pharmacists and registered dietitians guide the FREE in-store tours, covering topics such as reading Nutrition Facts labels and identifying healthier food options such as high fiber grains and choices lower in saturated-fat, which are easily identified by nutrition iQ®, JEWEL-OSCO's color-coded in-store nutritional navigation system. Tour content is geared for those who have diabetes and also extends to friends, family members and others who may be able to take action now to delay or stop their own diagnosis of diabetes.  

"Managing diabetes is about understanding the importance of balanced nutrition, regular meals and choosing from a variety of food groups throughout the day. Our tours help customers discover how they can enjoy controlled portions from every food group and eat things they like, including what they need to help manage their blood sugar," said JEWEL-OSCO Registered Dietitian Kim Kirchherr, MS, RD, LDN, CDE.

JEWEL-OSCO's Eating Healthy with my Diabetes tours will run through early December. To find a tour near you, to register for a tour or to obtain additional information, consumers can visit their local JEWEL-OSCO pharmacy or call 1-800-403-8238 or register online at www.eatinghealthywithmydiabetes.com.

Diabetes Fast Facts

• One in 10 U.S. adults has diabetes now, and if current trends continue, the prevalence is expected to rise to one in three by 2050.(2)
• Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include older age, obesity, family history, having diabetes while pregnant, sedentary lifestyle, and race/ethnicity.(2)
• The total costs of diabetes are estimated at $174 billion annually, including $116 billion in direct medical costs.(2)
• Proper diet and physical activity can reduce the risk of diabetes and help to control the condition in people with diabetes.(2)
• About 215,000 people younger than 20 years of age had diabetes (type 1 or type 2) in the U.S. in 2010.(3)

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is defined by elevated blood sugar levels that happen when the body loses the ability to make or use insulin effectively. When insulin is not available for cells, the body cannot obtain the glucose or sugar from foods eaten to use it as energy. To learn more about diabetes and how to get tested, visit www.diabetes.org.

Types of diabetes and related conditions include:  

• Type 1 diabetes— occurs when the body stops producing insulin. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and adolescents. Treatment includes regular blood sugar tests, insulin therapy and other medical intervention.
• Type 2 diabetes— occurs when the body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin effectively. The condition can often be managed by diet, exercise and blood sugar monitoring, but may require medications as well. Your doctor will determine the right course of treatment for you.
• Pre-diabetes— occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than target range but not in diagnostic range. Those with pre-diabetes are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Weight loss and increased physical activity can help prevent and manage pre-diabetes.  

To learn more about the Eating Healthy with my Diabetes tour program, visit www.eatinghealthywithmydiabetes.com.

About JEWEL-OSCO

JEWEL-OSCO, a SUPERVALU company, operates 182 stores in Illinois, Iowa and Northwest Indiana.  With a market-leading position in Chicago, JEWEL-OSCO stores offer consumers the convenience of combined grocery and pharmacy retail, in addition to services such as fuel centers at select locations.  Originally established in 1899, the company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve.  For more information about JEWEL-OSCO, please visit www.jewelosco.com or www.jeweloscopharmacies.com.

Sources:

(1) Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, "Get the Facts on Diabetes," www.cdc.gov

(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Older, More Diverse Population and Longer Lifespans Contribute to Increase," Oct. 22, 2010, www.cdc.gov

(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011," www.cdc.gov

SOURCE JEWEL-OSCO