Mike Golic, ESPN Radio Personality and Former Philadelphia Eagle, Holds Pre-Season "Training Camp" for People With Type 2 Diabetes

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Golic, co-host of ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning and former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, is teaming up with the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) to launch the Blood Sugar Basics Game Plan, an educational program designed to help people living with type 2 diabetes work with their healthcare provider to better manage their condition.  He will be back on his home turf today to unveil The Game Plan to Philadelphia-area type 2 diabetes patients.  He will discuss his own experience with managing type 2 diabetes and encourage patients to take an active role in managing their type 2 diabetes.  Golic will be joined by Farhad Zangeneh, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., member of the board of directors for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and physician advisor for Blood Sugar Basics.

The Game Plan, available at BloodSugarBasics.com, breaks down diabetes management into four easy-to-understand "goals" that are intended to help people with type 2 diabetes begin to take the necessary steps toward better management of their disease, including blood sugar control, meal planning, and physical activity.

"I'm still continuing to learn about diabetes six years after my diagnosis," explains Golic.  "The key is to become educated, and the Blood Sugar Basics Game Plan is designed to encourage people with type 2 diabetes to learn more about their condition and take steps to better manage it."

Golic admits there was one particular aspect of the disease about which he was completely unaware – low blood sugar.  He describes his first experience with low blood sugar when he was at the gym for his regular workout; he didn't eat beforehand and was working out harder than usual.  Suddenly, Golic began to feel dizzy and shaky.   After trying to power through the symptoms like a pro athlete, he realized they were related to his diabetes and he needed to stop to rest and eat before pushing himself too far.

"I didn't know about low blood sugar until I experienced it, and I certainly didn't know what caused it.  My doctor told me that low blood sugar can be caused by eating less or later than usual, changes in physical activity, and certain diabetes medicines," said Mike.   

According to Dr. Zangeneh, people with type 2 diabetes may not realize that low blood sugar can lead to serious consequences.  "If left untreated, low blood sugar can lead to loss of consciousness, convulsions, or seizures, which require emergency treatment," added Dr. Zangeneh.

Diabetes is associated with increased risk for serious complications including heart disease or stroke.  People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to be at risk for heart disease or stroke than people who do not have diabetes.  In addition to managing blood sugar, people with type 2 diabetes should also control their blood pressure and cholesterol.

"Managing diabetes can seem overwhelming for patients, particularly if they feel the pressure to change everything about their lifestyle all at once.  That is where The Game Plan comes in to play," says Dr. Zangeneh.  "The Game Plan 'goals' are designed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage various aspects of the disease, including the ABCs of diabetes – A1C (blood sugar), blood pressure, and cholesterol.  It is important for patients to work with their healthcare team to customize The Game Plan 'goals' to their individual needs and work toward them, one step at a time."

The Game Plan is spearheaded by a trio of "coaches," including Mike Golic, Dr. Zangeneh and Samantha Heller, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., a registered dietician and exercise physiologist with expertise in diabetes.  The Game Plan outlines four personalized "goals" that people with type 2 diabetes can put into practice, one at a time, with the help of a healthcare professional.

The four easy-to-understand, personalized "goals" of the The Game Plan are:

• "Huddle" – encourages patients to work with a healthcare professional to learn more about type 2 diabetes and fill out The Game Plan Playbook to set health goals for their diabetes and develop a personalized "game plan."
• "Enter the Nutrition Zone" – helps people take small steps to healthier eating habits.
• "Get in the Game" – shows people how to find ways to help incorporate more physical activity into their daily routine.
• "Check the Scoreboard" – encourages people with type 2 diabetes to celebrate their progress with their biggest fans, like their friends and family, assess what worked for them, and visit a healthcare professional to continue working toward and maintaining their "goals."

To get started on developing their personal Game Plan, people with type 2 diabetes can visit BloodSugarBasics.com.  The website also has other helpful resources including questions to ask your doctor, tips about managing high and low blood sugar, a blood sugar knowledge quiz and checklists on how to help get through episodes of high and low blood sugar.

People living with type 2 diabetes and their families who live in the Philadelphia area can stop by the event today to learn more in person about The Game Plan.  Following are the event details:

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Please RSVP to Marianne McBride at (212) 798-9939 or [email protected]

About Mike Golic

Mike Golic spent nine years as a defensive tackle in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins.  Once he retired, Golic started his broadcast career with a weekly segment on the Randall Cunningham Show and is now one of the namesakes behind the nationally acclaimed radio show Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio, which is syndicated through ESPN2 and reaches 98 million Americans every morning.  Golic also has type 2 diabetes and encourages other patients to tackle the disease with the Blood Sugar Basics Game Plan.

About Dr. Farhad Zangeneh

Farhad Zangeneh, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., is a clinical endocrinologist and medical director of the Endocrine, Diabetes and Osteoporosis Clinic (EDOC) in Sterling, Virginia.  He is also an assistant clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.  As an expert in the care of people with type 2 diabetes, Dr. Zangeneh is the medical liaison for Blood Sugar Basics, who led the development of The Game Plan.

About Blood Sugar Basics

Blood Sugar Basics is an educational program aimed to help people living with diabetes, their families, and loved ones learn about the importance of controlling 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. The Game Plan, on BloodSugarBasics.com, is an easy-to-understand four-"goal" program to help people with type 2 diabetes in their management of the condition.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)

The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).  ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: Providing professional education and reliable public health information; Recognizing excellence in education, research and service; Promoting clinical research and Defining the future of Clinical Endocrinology.

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.

SOURCE Merck; American College of Endocrinology