The Medical 'Dream Team' From O, The Oprah Magazine, Comes to Los Angeles to Fight Diabetes in the African American Community * PacifiCare's African American Health Solutions and LLuminari Host Free Educational Health Program for Community Leaders LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- You may be one of the million African Americans who has diabetes and you don't even know it.(1) PacifiCare's African American Health Solutions (AAHS) and LLuminari, Inc., a national health firm with doctors known as O, The Oprah Magazine's, "Dream Team," will roll out a community health initiative to volunteer leaders in Los Angeles on October 23 at The African American Firefighter Museum. The program, called "We Matter," will deliver life-saving diabetes information, prevention techniques and teaching tools to African Americans, a group disproportionately affected by this deadly disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, one in four Black women over age 55 has diabetes, and the average age of those affected is decreasing -- as evidenced by the increasing number of African-American children now being diagnosed with adult onset, type-2 diabetes. "Diabetes is devastating the African-American community; therefore, we must work hard to educate folks about what they can do to prevent or better manage it," says Bridget Harper, Vice President, PacifiCare's African American Health Solutions. "We've taken the first step to turn the tide of this disease by bringing a distinguished team of experts to Los Angeles to provide our community leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to become ambassadors on the front lines to battle diabetes." PacifiCare's African American Health Solutions initiative is working with the California Black Women's Health Project to bring the program to Los Angeles. The program, which incorporates the theme, "Each One, Teach One," is designed to help community leaders share information with their communities. The day's events will feature LLuminari expert psychologist Janet Taylor, M.D., leading the LLuminari Health Ambassador certification; cardiologist Lynne Perry-Bottinger, M.D., discussing the effects of diabetes on heart health; and founder of the National Black Women's Health Imperative, Byllye Avery, M.Ed., providing community leaders with an inspirational challenge to lead. LLuminari special guest and Endocrine Institute president, Merville Marshall, M.D., will deliver the conference keynote address. The African American Firefighter Museum, located just east of downtown, was selected because it reflects the key message of the day: taking action to make a difference. After an empowering day of learning, participants are certified Health Ambassadors, complete with LLuminari "Each One Teach One" Diabetes Toolkits to educate their families, friends, neighbors and community groups. Over the next year, these Health Ambassadors will implement numerous diabetes educational workshops and seminars in their respective communities at senior centers, churches, civic groups, nursing homes and other organizations. "African American Health Solutions is in Los Angeles for the long haul. The 'each one, teach one' approach allows us to make a greater impact in the community," says Harper. "Our goal is to increase diabetes awareness in the African-American community, and then track participants over the next year, offering them long-term health resources and programs." PacifiCare's African American Health Solutions is an educational and community-based program designed to help eliminate disparities in healthcare and improve the quality of life for African Americans. For more information about this initiative, call (714) 226-2048. (1) American Diabetes Association About PacifiCare Health Systems PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with more than 3 million health plan members and approximately 10 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Currently, more than 99 percent of PacifiCare's commercial health plan members are enrolled in plans that have received Excellent Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). PacifiCare's specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy and medical management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/. About LLuminari LLuminari is a health education company that develops original content and programming through its nationally known physicians and experts. The company's intent is to provide guidance and clarity on health information reaching women, at home and in the workplace, to promote healthier lifestyles. DATASOURCE: PacifiCare CONTACT: Corliss Hill of PacifiCare, African American Health Solutions, +1-714-226-2048, ; or Stephanie Mogavero of LLuminari, Inc., +1-302-654-5191, Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/

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