Medtronic Minimed President and Wife Pledge More Than $1 Million to American Diabetes Association Research Foundation

1/25/2002

From: Mark Overbay, 703-549-1500, ext. 2290 or Deanne McLaughlin, 818-576-4325

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 25 -- The American Diabetes Association announced today that Terrance H. Gregg and Louise Cotting-Gregg, of Los Angeles, Calif., have pledged a total of $1,050,000 for the study of diabetes and pregnancy, to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation.

"Our family has been passionate about the fight against diabetes for years, and we plan to continue doing our best to make a difference in the diabetes community. We hope this gift to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation will help lead to further medical advances that improve the lives of women with diabetes and their children," said Mr. and Mrs. Gregg.

This gift culminates many years of personal and professional support for causes related to diabetes by Terry and Louise Gregg. In addition to helping with local and national programs in the diabetes community, Mr. Gregg sits on the Association's Research Foundation Board of Directors. As President of Medtronic MiniMed, a world leader in insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring systems, headquartered in Northridge, Calif., Mr. Gregg also devotes his professional life to improving the lives of those affected by diabetes. In recognition of his commitment to families living with the challenges of diabetes, Mr. Gregg will be honored by the Association's Los Angeles office as a Father of the Year at an Association dinner reception on June 6, 2002.

Diabetes during pregnancy is a serious condition that can lead to a myriad of health problems for both the pregnant mother and her child. Pregnancy demands more insulin in the body, because of the increased production of hormones that can lead to insulin resistance. Between 3 percent to 5 percent of pregnancies among women with diabetes result in newborn mortality within 28 days, compared to a rate of 1.5 percent for women who do not have diabetes. In addition, because of the increased risk of large birth weight in diabetic pregnancies, pregnant women with diabetes are 3 to 4 times more likely to have a cesarean section than the general population.

In its efforts to fund the most groundbreaking scientific research, the American Diabetes Association will use the Gregg donation to identify and fund research projects that could lead to improvements in health outcomes related to pregnancy and diabetes. "The Research Foundation has a unique ability to match a donor's interests with cutting edge research projects that might otherwise lack funding," said Davida F. Kruger, MSN, APRN, BC-ADM, Chair of the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. "The Greggs' remarkable effort to help women with diabetes is an important example of the passion and commitment that makes diabetes research possible."

The ADA Research Foundation was established in 1994 to provide focus to the Association's research effort and to raise gifts solely for diabetes research. The mission of the Association's Research Foundation is to fund research that will improve the lives of those with diabetes and ultimately find a cure for the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic disease and a silent killer. Sixteen million Americans have diabetes and more than 800,000 are newly diagnosed each year. Diabetes is the nation's fifth deadliest disease, killing almost 200,000 people annually. A major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to hundreds of communities. For more information about the Association and the diabetes research program, please visit http://www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).