Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) Debuts New Brochure Series Focusing on Type 2 Diabetes and Excess Weight

TAMPA, Fla., July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to raise awareness of the effects of excess weight on overall health, the OAC has released a new series of educational brochures.  Millions of Americans are affected by excess weight, obesity and severe obesity. One of the most common conditions related to excess weight is type 2 diabetes. Approximately 25.8 million Americans have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.(1) Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Additionally, an estimated 79 million American adults are affected by prediabetes.

The series features three separate brochures, each focusing on different aspects, issues and stages of type 2 diabetes. The first brochure, "Understanding Excess Weight and its Role in Type 2 Diabetes," focuses on risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, symptoms of the disease and the complications of high blood sugar levels. The second brochure, "Understanding Prediabetes and Excess Weight," provides information about risk factors for developing prediabetes or diabetes, as well as testing for the disease. The third brochure, "Understanding Excess Weight and Type 2 Diabetes: A Brochure for Individuals Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes," guides people with type 2 diabetes on managing the disease through diet, exercise and medication.  Each brochure includes helpful questions to ask a healthcare professional and a food diary to track eating habits.

"Since type 2 diabetes is one of the most common weight-related conditions, it is crucial that the public has access to educational materials to better understand the impact of excess weight on their health. These brochures provide information on excess weight and type 2 diabetes and prepare the reader for the often avoided discussion of how their weight is affecting their health with a healthcare professional," said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO.

Funding for the brochure series was provided by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BIPI) and Lilly USA, LLC (Lilly). "We are grateful for BIPI and Lilly's support of the brochure series, as it has allowed the OAC to fill an educational gap on the topic of excess weight and diabetes," said Nadglowski.

The brochure series is available for free both online and in print. To view the brochure series and order a free copy of each, please visit www.obesityaction.org/educationaltools/brochures/diabetes.php.

About the OAC
The OAC is a National nonprofit charity dedicated to helping individuals affected by obesity. The OAC was formed to bring together individuals struggling with weight issues and provide educational resources and advocacy tools.

(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2011. Available at

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf. Accessed on May 23, 2011.

SOURCE Obesity Action Coalition