News Release

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and INDIANAPOLIS, Aug 28, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- As Ernesto nears the coast, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) are working together to offer tips for people with diabetes to help limit interruption of their medical treatment if disaster strikes.

People with chronic medical conditions that require daily medications are among the most vulnerable victims of natural disasters, as access to their homes, medical supplies and even medicines may be interrupted or compromised.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina last summer, people with diabetes faced particular challenges, especially patients using insulin, a hormone that the body needs for the correct use of food and energy. People using insulin need to take their medicine every day, often multiple times, to keep blood sugar levels in balance; meals and therapy routines are often carefully planned.

"The effects of Hurricane Katrina touched all of us last year," said Dr. Steven Petak, MD, FACE, President of AACE. "Trying to maintain control of a disease during a natural disaster is incredibly difficult. That is why AACE is focusing this year on providing our patients with the tools necessary to stay healthy during events like this. Taking preventative steps is vitally important, because losing control of your diabetes for weeks or months can have a disastrous impact on your health."

Stress and erratic eating patterns can change blood sugar levels, and the chaos of a disaster or catastrophic event can confuse these routines and potentially seriously affect the health of people with diabetes. Diabetes affects an estimated 194 million adults worldwide(1) and more than 20 million in the United States.(2)

"Patients with diabetes, especially those taking insulin injections, should make sure to have a reserve supply of medication and supplies for a period of several weeks in the event of a major disaster or evacuation," said Dr. Carlos R. Hamilton, Past President, AACE, and a Houston physician. "Experience with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 taught us that medical services, including pharmacies, may not be available and emergency care in shelters may lack the ability to give insulin injections. These emergency supplies should include equipment for self-monitoring of blood glucose, including test strips and monitor batteries."

As a service to help people with diabetes and their caregivers prepare for a natural disaster, AACE and Lilly -- one of the world's leading manufacturers of insulin -- are working together to offer special tips for Diabetes Disaster Preparation. These helpful suggestions can be applied no matter where you live, whether in a hurricane region, tornado alley, earthquake zone or elsewhere, and can be applied broadly to any medical condition.

    *  Ensure that your medications and supplies are stored in a defined
       location and can be easily gathered if you must quickly evacuate your
       home or place of work
    *  If you use insulin, keep cool packs or ice in your freezer that can be
       easily reached to keep your medicine cool while on the go
    *  Compile an easy-to-identify, easy-to-reach kit that includes:
       *  Extra medical supplies, such as syringes, cotton balls, tissues,
          alcohol swabs, blood glucose testing strips, blood glucose meter,
          lancing device and lancets, urine ketone testing strips and any
          other items relevant to your therapy and blood sugar monitoring
       *  An empty hard plastic bottle to dispose of syringes and lancets
       *  Small cooler to store your insulin while away from refrigeration
       *  Pen and small notebook to record blood sugars
       *  Extra pair of glasses (if you wear glasses)
       *  Extra copies of prescriptions and health insurance cards
       *  Emergency medical information and emergency contact list, including
          your caregiver's and physicians' names and phone numbers. If you are
          a parent of a child with diabetes, keep a copy of the physician's
          orders for your child's care on file with the school, as well as in
          your disaster kit
       *  Up-to-date glucagon emergency kit (if using insulin) and fast-acting
          carbohydrate (such as glucose tablets or orange juice)
       *  Non-perishable items such as granola bars, unsweetened cereal, hard
          candies, peanut butter and crackers, and water
       *  Typical emergency items such as a First Aid kit, flashlight,
          whistle, matches and candles, radio with batteries, and work gloves
    *  Keep the kit up-to-date and ensure you have enough supplies to last at
       least a week
    *  Keep something containing sugar with you at all times in case you
       develop low blood sugar
    *  Maintain your meal plan to the best of your ability and keep hydrated.
       However, food and water supplies can often become contaminated during a
       disaster and it may be necessary to boil water before drinking
    *  Monitor your blood sugar frequently and record your numbers
    *  Increase your food intake during periods of excessive physical exertion
       (such as lifting heavy objects or walking longer-than-usual distances)
       by eating appropriate snacks between meals
    *  Wear shoes at all times and examine your feet often, as people with
       diabetes are more vulnerable to developing infections. If you have a
       foot wound, seek medical attention immediately
    *  If you are relocated or affected by a disaster, call your doctors as
       soon as possible to touch base and maintain the continuity of your
       medical care
    *  If you are a parent of a child with diabetes, make sure that you
       clearly identify which school staff members will assist your child in
       the event of an emergency
    *  If you are displaced or need to evacuate, identify yourself immediately
       as a person with diabetes and report any related conditions so that
       authorities can provide for proper medical care

"No one can anticipate the effect of a natural disaster, but with proper preparation and care, people with diabetes can survive and manage their disease with limited interruption while dealing with the aftermath of a disaster," said Dr. Sherry Martin, medical advisor, Eli Lilly and Company. "Taking the time to prepare now may make a huge difference in an emergency."

For more information, patients or caregivers can visit: www.aace.com.

About Diabetes

Diabetes affects an estimated 194 million adults worldwide(1) and more than 20 million in the United States.(2) Approximately 90 to 95 percent of those affected have type 2 diabetes, a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin and/or the cells in the body do not respond normally to insulin.(2) Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the United States(2) and costs approximately $132 billion per year in direct and indirect medical expenses. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adults over the age of 40, but is increasingly common in younger people.(2)

According to a 2005 report by the AACE, two-thirds of people with diabetes do not achieve target hemoglobin A1C levels (6.5 percent or less according to AACE recommendations) with their current treatment regimen.(3) A1C is an average measurement of blood sugar over a three-month period.

The A1C is the best test to predict the risk for the development of serious diabetes-related complications. Because a high glucose (blood sugar) level over time increases a patient's risk for these complications, it is important to keep an accurate measure of a patient's A1C level. The chaos of a disaster can cause dramatic changes in blood sugar levels due to stress and erratic eating patterns. These changes in routine can potentially seriously affect the health of people with diabetes, thus it is very important to check in with your healthcare professional as soon as possible after the disaster to check your A1C level.

About AACE

AACE is a professional medical organization consisting of over 5,300 practicing clinical endocrinologists devoted to furthering patient care in the field of endocrinology. AACE is committed to transforming the lives of patients by enabling one another to practice leading edge, proactive, ethical and cost effective medicine.

All members of AACE are fully licensed physicians and fully trained in endocrinology. The majority are board certified in internal medicine and subspecialty certified in adult or pediatric endocrinology. AACE members are recognized clinicians and educators, and many are affiliated with medical schools and universities. Members contribute on a regular and continuing basis to the scientific literature on endocrine diseases and conduct medical education programs on this subject. For more information on AACE, please visit www.aace.com.

About Lilly Diabetes

Through a long-standing commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with breakthrough treatments that enable them to live longer, healthier and fuller lives. Since 1923, Lilly has been the industry leader in pioneering therapies to help healthcare professionals improve the lives of people with diabetes, and research continues on innovative medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. For more information about Lilly's diabetes products, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

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REFERENCES

(1) The International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas. Available at: http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?unode=3B96906B-C026-2FD3-87B73F80BC22682A. Accessed April 12, 2005.

(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2005.pdf.

(3) http://www.aace.com/newsroom/press/2005/index.php?r=20050518_2

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Scott MacGregor of Lilly, +1-317-651-1494, mobile: +1-317-440-4699; or Bryan Campbell
of AACE, +1-904-353-7878, mobile: +1-904-626-2915

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