A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 784 Supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES DECEMBER 2, 2020 Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month. Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘CDC’’)— (1) 34,200,000 individuals in the United States have diabetes; and (2) an estimated 88,000,000 individuals in the United States who are 18 years of age or older have prediabetes; Whereas diabetes is a serious chronic condition that affects individuals of every age, race, ethnicity, and income level; Whereas the CDC reports that— (1) Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes and develop the disease at much VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:04 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR784.ATS SR784 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 784 ATS higher rates than the general population of the United States; and (2) an estimated 21.4 percent of individuals with di- abetes in the United States have not yet been diagnosed with the disease; Whereas, in the United States, more than 10.5 percent of the population, including 26.8 percent of individuals who are 65 years of age or older, have diabetes; Whereas, of the 17,400,000 veterans in the United States, 8,800,000 who are 65 years of age or older, and 1 in 4 overall, are receiving care for diabetes from the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs; Whereas the risk of developing diabetes at some point in life is 40 percent for adults in the United States; Whereas, according to the American Diabetes Association, the United States spent an estimated $237,000,000,000 on direct medical costs for cases of diagnosed diabetes in 2017, and out-of-pocket costs for insulin have grown sig- nificantly in recent years for many patients; Whereas the American Diabetes Association reports that care for people with diagnosed diabetes accounts for 1 in 4 health care dollars spent in the United States; Whereas the cost of health care is estimated to be 2.3 times higher for individuals in the United States with diabetes than those without diabetes; Whereas, as of November 2020, a cure for diabetes does not exist; Whereas there are successful means to reduce the incidence, and delay the onset, of type 2 diabetes; VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:04 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR784.ATS SR784 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 784 ATS Whereas, with proper management and treatment, individuals with diabetes live healthy and productive lives; and Whereas individuals in the United States celebrate American Diabetes Month in November: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of American 2 Diabetes Month, including— 3 (A) encouraging individuals in the United 4 States to fight diabetes through public aware- 5 ness of prevention and treatment options; and 6 (B) enhancing diabetes education; 7 (2) recognizes the importance of awareness and 8 early detection, including awareness of symptoms 9 and risk factors such as— 10 (A) being— 11 (i) older than 45 years of age; or 12 (ii) overweight; and 13 (B) having— 14 (i) a particular racial and ethnic back- 15 ground; 16 (ii) a low level of physical activity; 17 (iii) high blood pressure; 18 (iv) a family history of diabetes; or 19 (v) a history of diabetes during preg- 20 nancy; 21 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:04 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR784.ATS SR784 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 784 ATS (3) supports decreasing the prevalence of type 1 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes in the United 2 States through research, treatment, and prevention; 3 and 4 (4) recognizes the importance of addressing sys- 5 temic barriers to health care that— 6 (A) leave many vulnerable communities at 7 a heightened risk for diabetes; and 8 (B) limit access to health care resources 9 that are needed to effectively prevent the onset, 10 and to manage the condition, of diabetes. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:04 Dec 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR784.ATS SR784 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS