MILPITAS, Calif., June 28, 1999 - The 1999 LifeScan Prize for Athletic Achievement was recently announced, and a cash prize of $5,000 was bestowed on each of three athletes with diabetes who have distinguished themselves as role models for healthy living. The prize is funded by LifeScan, the leading manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring products for people with diabetes, and awarded by the International Diabetic Athletes Association (IDAA), a non-profit organization whose members include persons with diabetes as well as healthcare professionals.

This year's winners are:

• Marjorie Foy, a research specialist at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. Since Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed only in children, it never occurred to Foy that she might develop the disease as an adult. But she was very familiar with diabetes, as her work was vital in the completion of a study of diabetes patients conducted at Duke, the results of which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Foy was also an avid runner. When she learned that she had diabetes, she was gravely concerned about her future since most of the patients who participated in the Duke study suffered from end stage renal disease. She also was concerned she would need to give up her passion for competitive marathons. But, Foy has proven that it is possible for diabetes patients to remain healthy and to continue to expand their athletic prowess, as she has racked up several championship titles, including North Carolina Godiva Runner of the Year, and represented North Carolina as USA Track and Field's Athlete in Development for 1998. Foy's dream is to be the first person with Type 1 diabetes to qualify for the Olympic Marathon trials.

• Constable Mark Heeler, a Canadian police officer, and a dedicated and long-time runner. The Ontario police department consists of 6,000 employees, a number of whom wish to be selected for the Ontario Provincial Police running team, which takes only 15 members. Thus, it is a real triumph for Heeler that not only was he selected for this team, but that having diabetes has not slowed him down at all. He won 12 races in Canada and the U.S. and also placed 7th in the 10,000 meter race at the 1997 World Police & Fire Games in Calgary. Heeler plans to run in the Boston Marathon in 2000. He is also a medal contender for the upcoming World Police Fire Games in Calgary, the world's second largest multi-sport event after the summer Olympics.

• Colby Smith, an attorney practicing in Juneau, Alaska. Smith was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 7, but this hasn't prevented him from active participation in sports of all types. Smith's goal is to conquer the seven summits (the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents). Thus far, he has climbed three -- Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest peak; and Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, a climb that took 25 days to achieve. Beyond mountain climbing, Colby is also an ice climbing guide on the Juneau glacier ice fields, has participated in the 110-mile Klondike relay race, and worked as a crew member during the Spirit of Adventure Sailboat race, the longest inland sailboat race in the U.S.

"People who have diabetes should be encouraged to be physically active in order to benefit from the substantial health promoting effects of exercise," said Bernard Zinman, MDCM, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre of the University of Toronto. "Beyond this, it is also evident that having diabetes need not be a barrier to achieving athletic performance at the highest world class competitive levels. The IDAA represents the spectrum of individuals interested in exercise from recreational to competitive levels for people with diabetes."

"It is an inspiring experience to encounter these truly great athletes, who have not let diabetes interfere with their goals for living," said Vicki Swenson, Senior Manager, Professional Affairs, LifeScan, Inc. "LifeScan is proud to partner with the IDAA to make this annual award possible."

Applications are accepted year round and are available by calling 1-800-898-IDAA, by writing to the IDAA at 1647 West Bethany Home Road, #B, Phoenix, AZ 85015, or by visiting the IDAA's Web site at www.diabetes-exercise.org. The nomination process begins in the fall and the winners are announced annually at the IDAA Conference the following spring.

Founded in 1985, the IDAA is a non-profit service organization whose members include individuals from all over the world with diabetes who participate in fitness activities at all levels, as well as healthcare professionals and anyone interested in the relationship between diabetes and sports. IDAA chapters exist in the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company committed to improving the quality of life for people with diabetes, offers a complete family of blood glucose monitoring products to meet different testing needs. Frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose is an important part of successful diabetes care. Blood glucose results help people with diabetes and their healthcare professionals determine the effectiveness of prescribed medication, diet and exercise regimens.

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