AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --

An in-depth survey of more than 750 patients with type 2 diabetes across
Europe reveals that poor management of diabetes is a serious challenge for
individual patients, as well as a significant burden on the healthcare
systems. The Choose Control survey results discussed today at the 43rd Annual
Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in
Amsterdam point to serious cost implications resulting from patients
struggling to manage their diabetes, the care needed to treat the long-term
health issues associated with poor diabetes management and the increasing
number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year in Europe.

"There are more than 53 million people in Europe suffering from type 2
diabetes and its associated complications, including blindness, kidney
failure, nerve problems and heart attack -- it costs the healthcare systems
nearly 3.5 times more to care for these people than people without the
disease(1,2)," said Professor Eberhard Standl, Chairman Munich Diabetes
Research Institute and President-elect International Diabetes Federation
Europe. "The Choose Control survey results validate the need for better
disease management to alleviate the enormous costs associated with the
disease and its long-term complications."

With nearly five percent of healthcare budgets across Europe being spent
on people with type 2 diabetes, it's important to understand how to delay the
progression or prevent the disease.(1,3,4) The Choose Control survey was
fielded to validate the need for more consistent education around the disease
and successful management/treatment strategies.

Key findings from the survey results show that more than 75 percent of
patients who are not successfully managing type 2 diabetes believe they are
adequately controlling the disease. Half of the patients surveyed believe
they have 'mild' diabetes while admitting that they do not fully understand
the importance of HbA1c targets as a key indicator of successful blood sugar
control and are not aware of the complications associated with the disease.

The 'Choose Control' report summarizes recommendations on how to tackle
the diabetes issue:

- Provide practical intervention strategies which enable patients to
      change behaviour -- for example, losing weight can be a positive
      motivating factor
    - Increase awareness and understanding about the importance of meeting
      HbA1c targets
    - Empower healthcare professionals and patients to take appropriate
      action when patients are uncontrolled
    - Educate people with Type 2 diabetes about insulin -- reduce their fears
      and not use it as a threat in the early stages of diabetes
    - Provide improved disease management strategies that can help patients
      gain effective control of their diabetes.

"Many European countries will see a dramatic increase in diabetes by
2025, and we believe better patient education can offset many of the costs
associated with caring for people with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Andreas
Liebl, Medical Director of the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism in Bad
Heilbrunn, Germany. "Tight blood sugar management, good glycaemic control and
weight control at every stage of the disease's progression are crucial to
managing it and helping relieve the existing economic burden on the
healthcare systems."

About Diabetes

Described as an 'epidemic' or 'timebomb,' diabetes currently affects an
estimated 246 million people worldwide(5) and more than 53 million in Europe
alone -- this is set to increase to 64 million by 2025.(6) In virtually every
developed society, diabetes is ranked among the leading causes of blindness,
renal failure and lower limb amputation, as well as death through its effects
on cardiovascular disease (70-80 percent of people with diabetes die of
cardiovascular disease).(7)

About the Choose Control Survey

The data included in this report was derived from a survey commissioned
by Eli Lilly and Company and coordinated by an independent research
organisation, GfK Healthcare. The survey involved quantitative research and
qualitative interviews of 787 subjects in 5 countries (France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, UK). Data was collated by GfK Healthcare between August and
December 2006. Further data information can be provided upon request.
Complete survey results can be found at www.idf.org.

About Lilly

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, Indiana, Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and
information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.

About International Diabetes Federation

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the global advocate for
more than 240 million people with diabetes worldwide. It represents 200
diabetes associations in more than 150 countries. The mission of IDF is to
promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. IDF is a
non-governmental organisation in official relations with the World Health
Organisation.

REFERENCES

    (1) Williams R, van Gaal L, Lucioni C. Assessing the impact of
        complications on the costs of Type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 2002a;
        45: S13-7.
    (2) Diabetes UK. Diabetes in the UK 2004. Available at:
        http://www.diabetes.org.uk/infocentre/reports/in_the_UK_2004.doc.
        Accessed August 31, 2007.
    (3) Lucioni C, Garancini MP, Massi-Benedetti M et al. The Costs of Type 2
        Diabetes Mellitus in Italy: A CODE-2 Sub-Study Treat Endocrinol 2003;
        2: 121-33.
    (4) Jonsson B. Revealing the cost of Type II diabetes in Europe.
        Diabetologia 2002; 45: S5-S12.
    (5) International Diabetes Federation, Prevalence / All diabetes.
        Available at: http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=264. Accessed
        July 30, 2007.
    (6) IDF 2006 Diabetes Atlas 3rd edition page 35 (Figure 1).
    (7) International Diabetes Federation, Complications. Available at:
        http://www.eatlas.idf.org/Complications/. Accessed July 30, 2007.

    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
    (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070918/CLTU001LOGO )