Here’s a release from Merck, who has teamed up with Knicks legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe to set up the first official Diabetes Restaurant Month.
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., March 16, 2011 – Basketball legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe is teaming up with Merck on the first-ever Diabetes Restaurant Month program, to challenge restaurants in select cities to create diabetes-friendly menu items. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1998, Earl has learned how to maintain a diabetes-friendly lifestyle with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and he aims to inspire others to do the same by making a few small changes in their daily lives, including making smart choices while dining out.
More than one-third of Americans’ daily calorie intake comes from food eaten outside the home, including sit-down restaurants and fast-food establishments. The nearly 26 million people in the U.S. who have type 2 diabetes not only have a lot to learn about how to shop for and prepare foods that are diabetes-friendly, but also are faced with the challenge of identifying healthy meal options when dining out. Diabetes Restaurant Month is a program that strives to educate people with diabetes about the importance of making more informed dietary choices when eating out. 
“Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 12 years ago, I learned that taking small steps towards a healthier lifestyle, including diet and exercise, can help keep the disease under control,” said Earl. “Now, I’m working with Merck on the Diabetes Restaurant Month program to show people with diabetes that it’s possible to enjoy foods at our favorite restaurants and stay healthy at the same time.”
Diners are encouraged to visit local restaurants in select cities to try featured diabetes-friendly dishes during the month designated as Diabetes Restaurant Month for that city. Earl will visit each city participating in Diabetes Restaurant Month to sample diabetes-friendly dishes with a lucky local fan and a certified diabetes educator during an educational discussion about diabetes.
Restaurants participating in Diabetes Restaurant Month have created delicious diabetes-friendly dishes with the help of a registered dietician and an endocrinologist. A healthy diet is a key component of a diabetes-friendly lifestyle, and the Diabetes Restaurant Month program is helping people learn how to make smart choices when eating out. Visit MerckDiabetes.com for useful tips for dining out and getting active as well as some of Earl’s favorite diabetes-friendly recipes.
