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News Release

HHS, ADA HOLD NATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETING
TO FOCUS ON DIABETES AND WOMEN

In response to the growing diabetes epidemic in women, the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Coordinating Committee on Women's Health and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) today is hosting the first Women & Diabetes National Town Hall Meeting.

More than 9 million American women have diabetes yet many are unaware they have the disease. Among American adults, diabetes diagnoses have increased 61 percent between 1990 and 2001.

"Women are especially hard hit by this disease and its complications. That's why this town hall is of such critical importance," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "The incidence of diabetes is growing in America, and we have to work together to stem the tide of this chronic disease which robs people of their quality of life. We must make sure women have the information they need to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families."

The meeting brings together participants from both the public and private sector to educate women about their risk for diabetes. It focuses on prevention and management approaches as well as national and community resources for women.

"The American Diabetes Association is honored to co-host this important meeting bringing together the public and private sector to share successes and ideas for how to reach out to women to keep them healthy throughout their lifetime," said American Diabetes Association President Fran Kaufman, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist. "Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed with moderate lifestyle changes in meal planning and physical activity, and we know women are often responsible for those decisions in the household."

The meeting is being held in collaboration with the Congressional Diabetes Caucus as well as the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. In addition to speakers from HHS and ADA, members of Congress and celebrities such as actress Yvette Freeman of NBC's series ER will participate. Former Miss America Nicole Johnson, who has type 1 diabetes, will act as Mistress of Ceremonies for the meeting.

HHS Deputy Secretary Claude Allen is outlining the Administration's initiatives to combat diabetes, including the Steps to a HealthierUS initiative. The meeting includes an overview of HHS' diabetes programs targeting women across the life span and panels on diabetes prevention, treatment options and management aimed at preventing complications.

The burden of diabetes is especially heavy for women, because the disease can affect both women and their unborn children. Women with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which the body fails to make or properly use insulin, a hormone that takes glucose (blood sugar) out of the blood and into the cells of the body where it is converted to energy. In undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, glucose rises in the blood. People with type 2 diabetes also tend to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure and are at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation. More than 200,000 people die each year of related complications.

Seventeen million Americans have diabetes. Of these, an estimated 5.9 million Americans are unaware that they have the disease, according to HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An additional 16 million are estimated to have "pre-diabetes," a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. If pre-diabetes remains undiagnosed and untreated, it often will develop into type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and physical activity can significantly prevent or delay onset of type 2 diabetes.

In addition, diabetes and its complications cost the United States about $132 billion each year, including both direct medical costs and lost productivity.

To encourage a dialogue on these issues beyond the beltway, today's town hall is being satellite broadcast and Web cast nationwide. The broadcast may be viewed at www.mchcom.com. More information on diabetes can be found on the HHS Web site (www.hhs.gov) or through ADA toll-free at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or www.diabetes.org.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: May 20, 2003