Senator Boxer:  Help needed to reduce Indian diabetes rates

July 30, 2007

Diabetes has become a tremendously serious and costly disease in our nation. And while it strikes people of all backgrounds and ethnicities, the diabetes epidemic is particularly acute in our Native American populations. Among some tribes, as many as half of all adults have the disease.

I am writing to let you know that I am cosponsoring S.1494, a bill to reauthorize and expand two special diabetes programs for Indians, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and the Special Funding Program for Type I Diabetes Research.

The Special Diabetes Program for Indians currently finances diabetes programs within the Indian Health Service and helps to raise awareness about diabetes in tribal health programs. Current funding has established almost 400 new diabetes treatment and prevention programs and has helped to provide medications and therapies, clinical exams, screenings, and resources to prevent the complications that often arise from diabetes. It has also offered prevention programs such as physical fitness programs, medical nutrition therapy, wellness activities, and programs that target children and youth. This program certainly needs to be continued as provided by this legislation.

The Type I Diabetes Research program has funded important research into the causes and possible treatments for growing number of those who suffer from diabetes. It has also had success in pointing to ways to stop the progression of Type I diabetes as well as ways to reverse its progression, allowing for better long-term prognoses. Like the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, it is due to expire next year unless we reauthorize both programs with this legislation.

Diabetes, and especially Type I diabetes, can have devastating effects on those who suffer from it. It ranks as the sixth-leading cause of death in America and results in tremendous costs for both the families who must pay for treatment and for the federal government. I am please to support this legislation, which would reauthorize and extend two programs that have been proven to improve the outlook for so many Americans. You can count on me to work for the passage of this bill.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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