Taking Control of Your Diabetes, 501(c)3 (TCOYD) conference and health fair will be held October 24, 2009, at the San Diego Convention Center bringing national and local medical experts in diabetes care to people with all types of diabetes, those at risk for diabetes, and their loved ones for a day of highly informative and motivational programs.

Between 1996 and 2006 the prevalence of diabetes in California increased by 40%. In 2006 the number of Californians with diabetes was about 2.5 million or 8.2% of the adult population. Along the Mexican border the prevalence is nearly 16%.

The nonprofit diabetes education organization, Taking Control of Your Diabetes, has presented over 100 conferences throughout the country to help the 24 million Americans cope and stay informed about treating diabetes and its complications.  The all-day event presents speakers, small group workshops, and one-on-one sessions with specialists such as physicians, pharmacists, psychologists, dieticians, exercise physiologists, diabetes educators and foot specialists.

“It is our belief that the most efficient and effective way to improve diabetes care is to educate the people who are living with diabetes about the best ways to control this condition and prevent complications,” said Steven Edelman, M.D., founder of Taking Control of Your Diabetes, diabetes specialist and Professor of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, VA Medical Center San Diego.  Dr. Edelman was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15 and was the 2009 recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s Outstanding Educator Award.

Special guest, Kim Lyons, former trainer on “The Biggest Loser” will lead exercise demonstrations in the health fair, where 50 informational exhibits from national and local diabetes-related companies and organizations will be open throughout the day.
    
Medical faculty for the conference include Joe Piscatella, author of the best seller Don’t Eat Your Heart Out, founder of the Institute for Fitness and Health; William Polonsky, PhD, CDE, founder of Behavioral Diabetes Institute; Erminia Guareri, MD, cardiologist and founder of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine; and leading diabetes researchers Matthias Von Herrath, MD, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology; and Michael Gottschalk, MD, of Children’s Hospital, San Diego.

“We are dedicated to educating and motivating people with diabetes and their loved ones to take an active role in their condition in order to live healthier and happier lives,” said Dr. Edelman.

The American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, University of California, San Diego, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, and a host of other diabetes specialists, institutions and clinics have partnered with Taking Control of Your Diabetes to hold this premier conference and health fair.

Early registration fees are $25 per person, and include lunch, healthy snacks and all conference activities.  On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and costs $30. The event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Financial aid is available for those who need assistance.  More information is available at www.tcoyd.org or by calling 800-998-2693.

TCOYD is a San Diego-based 501c3 diabetes education organization dedicated to informing and empowering people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to take an active role in their health.  Founder and Director Steven V. Edelman, MD, is a diabetes specialist who practices and teaches at the VA Medical Center in San Diego, and the University of California, San Diego. This is the 15th annual San Diego TCOYD Conference and Health Fair, and the 111 th in the national series of conferences that the organization has presented since 1995.

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