-- Athletes With Diabetes Recognized for Oustanding Accomplishments -- 

MILPITAS, Calif., July 14, 2000 - The 2000 LifeScan Prize for Athletic Achievement was announced today, and the winners are three athletes with diabetes who have distinguished themselves as role models for healthy living. The $5,000 cash prize presented to each winning athlete is funded by LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company and the leading maker of blood glucose monitoring products for people with diabetes. It is 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:

• Kathleen O'Neill (Portland, Oregon). Kathleen is a committed athlete, training with her coach a minimum of 17 hours a week and managing her diabetes exceptionally well. Now 28, Kathleen has had diabetes since age 13. Her results for HbA1c -- the most important laboratory test for people with diabetes -- are consistently in the normal range for a person without diabetes. Currently, Kathleen focuses her energy on competitive cycling, in particular, sprinting in velodrome races. In June of 1999, she was a member of the 5-women team holding the record for the Race Across Oregon, a 532-mile road race. In August, Kathleen will be competing in the Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge, an international event. Her goal is to compete and place in every event.
• David Panofsky (Madison, Wisconsin). When David was in college, he was in his own words, "an unmotivated couch potato." His diagnosis of diabetes was what prompted him to take up cycling, which in turn led to rock climbing, running, cross country skiing, and distance hiking. A true athlete, David has competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials for bike racing, and he has climbed some of the Western Hemisphere's highest peaks. His love for hiking led David to form the organization "IDEA 2000" (International Diabetic Expedition to Aconcagua), through which a group of mountaineers with diabetes this December will climb Argentina's Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. The climb has three purposes: 1) to raise funds for people with diabetes in Latin America, where insulin and supplies are severely lacking; 2) to serve as a research model on the poorly understood effects of high altitude on diabetic physiology; and 3) to inspire people with diabetes to reach beyond their perceived limitations to live life to its fullest.
• Brian Byrne (Dublin, Ireland). When, at age 21, Brian was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he was determined to continue to lead an active life, despite being discouraged by the Irish medical community, which had little experience in managing diabetes around strenuous exercise. While initially taking up running to improve his fitness for squash, Brian progressively became a more competitive runner. Eventually, he completed eight marathons, competed in triathlons, including the Ironman competition, and set an Irish record by running 386 miles across the mountains of Ireland. He has also represented Ireland at the 100K World Championships in Holland. For the past seven years, Brian has dedicated a significant portion of his time to giving lectures to graduate students and physicians studying sports medicine at Trinity College in Dublin. He also conducts workshops throughout Ireland on exercise and healthy living for people with diabetes.

"This year's winners of the LifeScan/IDAA award demonstrate that active, healthy lives are possible even with a diagnosis of diabetes. LifeScan is proud to join with the IDAA to make these awards possible and to recognize the achievements that David, Brian, and Kathleen have realized," said Charles Renfroe, Senior Manager, Professional Affairs, LifeScan, Inc. "These athletes have managed to reach their goals without letting diabetes interfere with their lives."

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

Applications for the LifeScan award are accepted year round and are available by calling 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 summer.

LifeScan, the leading maker of blood glucose monitoring products, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with diabetes. More diabetes specialists and pharmacists recommend LifeScan systems than any other brand. Every day, more than three million people rely on LifeScan systems for simple testing and accurate results.

Visit www.Lifescan.com for information on diabetes self-care, healthcare professional standards of care, and LifeScan products and services.