[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           JUVENILE DIABETES

  (Mr. KLINK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, as the House moves toward its historic floor 
debate on health care reform, Members will direct their attention to 
several issues that have deeply divided us and our constituents: 
employer mandates, abortion, Medicare Part C, and cost controls.
  These are vital issues, but let us not forget that the real reason 
for a health care reform has less to do with architecture and more to 
do with people.
  Insurance companies have long discriminated against patients with 
diabetes and other illnesses by denying them health care coverage. 
Insurance reform to prevent discrimination based on pre-existing 
conditions must be included in the health care bill.
  This year more than 160,000 Americans will be killed by diabetes and 
diabetes-related complications such as heart disease, stroke, and 
kidney failure.
  More than 650,000 people--many of them children--will be diagnosed 
with diabetes this year. Diabetics, whose own systems do not produce or 
use the hormone, insulin, face a challenging task of self-regulation of 
their blood sugar through insulin injections, exercise, and rigorous 
diets.
  Diabetics know better than most that they have to eat to live, rather 
than live to eat.
  Matt Pysch who lives near Pittsburgh, faces challenges that most of 
us can only imagine.
  ``It's mind boggling,'' says Bea Pysch of her 13-year-old grandson.
  Matt can not eat too much at one time and his diet requires that his 
meals be broken up into five sessions per day rather than the 
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Certain foods are prohibited.
  ``Matt has a really great attitude and that's a key when you're a 
diabetic,'' says his grandmother.
  For Matt and 13 million Americans, there is no sure for diabetes.
  Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are doing ground-breaking 
laboratory work to understand what causes diabetes. For example, one 
research team has been exploring a possible link between streptococcus 
(which causes strep throat) and diabetes.
  Other researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have investigated 
the relationship between chicken pox and diabetes. These efforts and 
others like them are necessary to find a cure for diabetes.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not forget as we debate health care that it 
affects real people, like Matt Psych, and this important issue has a 
human face.

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