STEPPING IT UP IN FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES.

Byline: Denisse Salazar

With Type 2 diabetes affecting adults and children regardless of race or social status, Bob Harper, life and fitness coach from NBC's The Biggest Loser is in Los Angeles to encourage people to take charge of their health.

``Something has to be done,'' Harper said, about diabetes, which affects more than 18 million people and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

Harper is the spokesman for the nationwide educational campaign ``Diabetes & You: Step It Up to Get It Down,'' which is designed to help people with Type 2 diabetes better manage their disease.

Harper, a West Hollywood resident, said he joined the campaign because he deals with overweight America on a daily basis and ``it seemed like the perfect place for me to go in my career because it's such a problem that we are having here in America and all over the world.''

The campaign launched in July when the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists convened a panel of experts, including Harper, to discuss the current state of diabetes management and develop the ``6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control.'' The steps provide patients with recommendations that can be incorporated into their daily to improve their overall health.

The campaign was developed in response to a report issued last year by AACE showing that two out of three Americans with Type 2 diabetes analyzed in the study were not in control of their blood sugar.

But what does it mean to be in control of your blood sugar?

Dr. Michael Bush, an endocrinologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a board member of the AACE in California said the AACE recommends an A1C goal of 6.5 percent or less for most patients.

Bush said having control of blood sugar is crucial for diabetics since the disease can have dire consequences if not treated properly.

``Diabetics have a higher risk of blindness, heart attacks and kidney failure,'' Bush said. ``The point is to motivate and educate patients that if they control their diabetes these are the terrible things that can be prevented.''

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or does not respond properly to its own natural insulin, which helps the blood cells convert blood sugar to insulin.

The week of Oct. 30 was declared ``Diabetes Control Week'' in Los Angeles by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to create awareness of the epidemic.

Harper says the main thing people need to achieve control is to incorporate physical activity into their routine, make healthier food choices in their day, find a support group and make sure their blood sugar is at 6.5 percent or less.

Harper says he hopes this will be a wake-up call for America, especially for parents because ``once you get diabetes, it's yours forever.''

``Overweight parents are creating overweight children,'' Harper said. ``Parents saying that they don't have the time to prepare a healthy meal for their children isn't going to work anymore. They have to do something.''

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The 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control