Modify variables (global to local or the other way)

It would be great if it were possible to modify variables from local to global or the other direction.

I make my variables local by default, because I'm neurotic and like to limit the scope of things.

But then, as I'm working, I realize I want to share the variable among my various sprites.

The only thing I can do is delete the variable, and then make the variable again, but this time with the other scope.

This is especially painful, because the old variable is still referenced in my scripts. I have to go and manually remove the old variable from my scripts and then replace it with the new variable of the same name.