FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2000

Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431

WASHINGTON, DC — Diabetes is a disease that affects sixteen million Americans and their families, killing one American every three minutes. Diabetes disproportionately affects young children, older Americans, and minority populations. The disease is the leading cause of new adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations.

I am proud to be the Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. It is the largest Caucus in the House of Representatives, with over 250 bi-partisan Members of Congress working together to increase awareness of diabetes in Congress and to promote greater research of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.

Diabetes inhibits the human body’s ability to make or process insulin, a human enzyme that breaks downs glucose sugars in food and converts them into energy. When diabetes strikes, a person’s blood sugar level can either drop dramatically (hypoglycemia) or skyrocket (hyperglycemia). Both conditions are life threatening.

Routine injections or ingestions of insulin keep diabetics alive. But insulin is not a cure, and the complications that result from diabetes are severe and costly. Diabetics must monitor their blood sugars constantly, with four or five finger pricks a day to test their blood, numerous insulin injections and the constant monitoring of food intake. Diabetics are under perpetual concern that their delicate balance will be lost, causing serious complications.

Because of this disease’s terrible toll on individuals, and its increasing cost to society, Congress established the Diabetes Research Working Group (DRWG) and charged it with developing a comprehensive plan for diabetes research. By increasing the effectiveness of federally funded diabetes research we can find solutions to the complications brought on by this disease. Last year, the DRWG released a report to Congress that mapped out a comprehensive and strategic research plan. To meet the challenges laid out in the DRWG’s plan, Congress must also do its part and provide the financial commitment to fund the critical research it identified. If this can be accomplished, we can give hope to the millions of people whose lives are dramatically changed by this disease.

Last year, the first year after the issuance of the DRWG, Congress funded only two thirds of the $827 million recommended by the report. This is not acceptable. To realize the recommendations and extraordinary scientific opportunities in the plan, a significant increase in the federally funded budget for diabetes research is needed. It is imperative that Congress make this substantial financial commitment to diabetes to determine how to delay the onset of the disease and ultimately, to find a cure.

I am optimistic that we are on the brink of a scientific breakthrough in our fight against diabetes. With continued medical exploration and strong Congressional support for research funding, we can stop this dreaded disease. With a true societal commitment, I know that we will find a cure for diabetes – and soon.
 
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