New National Survey by the National Lipid Association Indicates Lack of Public Awareness About Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease and Dyslipidemia

New National Survey by the National Lipid =
Association=20
Indicates Lack of Public Awareness About Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease =
and=20
Dyslipidemia

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Nov. 16, 2004 (MARKET WIRE =
via COMTEX)=20
-- A new national survey conducted by the National Lipid Association =
(NLA) shows=20
that consumers ranked type 2 diabetes sixth on a list of seven medical =
factors=20
that contribute to the risk of getting heart disease when in fact people =
with=20
diabetes are four or more times as likely to develop heart disease than =
those=20
without. The results of the survey also demonstrate that consumers =
placed less=20
importance on dyslipidemia with regard to its impact on type 2 diabetes=20
patients: cholesterol was mentioned least among a list of six conditions =
that=20
Americans think diabetes patients face, ranking it behind poor =
circulation,=20
vision loss, increased risk for stroke and high blood pressure.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with blood lipid=20
imbalances, such as low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or =
"good"=20
cholesterol), high triglyceride (blood fat) levels and increased ratios =
of small=20
low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) -- a combination =
which=20
creates an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

"As we know, elevated cholesterol and type 2 =
diabetes are=20
major risk factors for heart disease independent of each other," said =
John=20
Guyton, President of the National Lipid Association. "However, when =
these two=20
conditions are found in the same person, the risk of heart disease =
increases=20
four or more times. The NLA is seeking to promote awareness and =
encourage=20
patients to talk with their doctors about the importance of routine =
cholesterol=20
management as part of any diabetes treatment regimen."

Other key findings include:

-- Close to half (47 percent) of Americans =
report that=20
they do not know

whether people with type 2 diabetes tend to =
have low=20
levels of HDL or

"good" cholesterol. -- According to the survey, =

cholesterol ranked second to last on a list

of choices diabetics should consider or change =
as part of=20
a treatment

regimen for diabetes -- glucose monitoring, =
controlling=20
sugar intake,

regular exercise and stopping smoking were all =
mentioned=20
more often.

About Diabetes

Of the two types of diabetes, type 2 diabetes =
accounts=20
for 85 to 95 percent of all cases worldwide. According to the American =
Diabetes=20
Association, 18.2 million people, or 6.3 percent of the population, have =

diabetes with nearly 5.2 million people unaware they have the disease. =
For=20
people with diabetes, elevated triglyceride levels and decreased HDL =
levels are=20
twice as common. According to the American Diabetes Association, =
improved=20
control of cholesterol and lipids can reduce cardiovascular =
complications by 20=20
to 50 percent.

About The National Lipid Association

The National Lipid Association (NLA) is =
multidisciplinary=20
non-profit membership association created in 2002 to serve the community =
of=20
lipid professionals who manage patients with lipid disorders and =
increased=20
cardiovascular risk.

Funding for the survey was sponsored by =
AstraZeneca LP.=20

Contact: Lori Clawges Communications Director =
National=20
Lipid Association PHONE: 904-998-0854 EMAIL: lclawges@lipid.org

National Lipid Association 8833 Perimeter Park =
Blvd.,=20
Suite 301 Jacksonville, FL 32216

SOURCE: National Lipid Association