CONCORD, N.C. (August 2, 2016) – American Diabetes Association® diabetes advocate Kevin Romer will ‘ride’ along with Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Watkins Glen International (WGI). The Trumansburg, N.Y. resident will have his name featured on a decal above the passenger-side window on the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang.
Like Reed, Romer lives with diabetes and knows how important it is to manage his health by working with his doctor, maintaining a healthy diet and staying active. This weekend at WGI, he will have the opportunity to meet Reed and watch the race from atop the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association pit box.
Romer and his wife are avid cyclists who have fundraised for and participated in three Upstate New York American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure® cycling events, with the Finger Lakes Tour de Cure on the books for later this month. By actively managing his diabetes through diet and exercise, Romer has dropped his A1C, a measure of average blood glucose levels over a three- month period, from a 14.1 to a 9.3 in six months.
“It’s really awesome how Kevin’s diet and exercise changes have affected his A1C level so much, ultimately allowing him to feel better and live a normal life,” said Reed. “We both love to cycle so I look forward to meeting him and talking about that this weekend.”
Ryan Reed and the ‘Riding with Ryan’ program roll into WGI for the first time this season. In this race last year, Reed finished 30th after starting 23rd and getting caught up in a late-race incident.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series takes the green flag from WGI on Saturday, August 6th at 2 p.m. ET on CNBC and MRN.
About Drive to Stop Diabetes
The Drive to Stop DiabetesSM campaign strives to educate people about living well with diabetes. The campaign encourages the millions of Americans who have diabetes to talk about a management plan with their doctor, family, and friends and to lead healthy lives.
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish.
