[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             FIGHT DIABETES

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                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 2, 1999

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of my 
Colleagues to the following letter I received from a young Vermonter. 
Philip Burgin-Young is nine years old, and likes to play soccer, as 
well as study math and science. At the same time, Philip has to 
regularly check his blood sugar, take three insulin shots a day, and 
closely watch what he eats, because he is diabetic. Like Philip, I 
believe that our government must do more for the 16 million Americans 
suffering from diabetes by investing in a cure to the disease.
  I call the attention of my colleagues to this moving letter and 
submit the letter for the Congressional Record for their benefit.

     February 21, 1999.Hon. Bernie Sanders,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Sanders: My name is Philip Burgin-
     Young, and I am nine years

[[Page E320]]

     old. I have had diabetes almost four years. I love to play 
     soccer, study math, and experiment with science. To be able 
     to do these things, I have to work real hard to take care of 
     my diabetes. That means that I check my blood sugar at least 
     six times a day (but usually closer to ten times), have at 
     least three shots of insulin a day (in my stomach, arms, 
     legs, and buttocks), count every gram of carbohydrate and fat 
     that I eat, and make sure that I exercise a lot to keep my 
     blood sugar balanced. My parents also check my blood sugar in 
     the middle of the night while I am sleeping. But even doing 
     these things, it is impossible to keep my blood sugar in the 
     normal range all of the time. Diabetes is a very complex 
     thing.
       It is not easy to describe what it is like living with 
     diabetes. But I have two stories that can describe it a 
     little. The first story is about something my sister said to 
     me. One day my sister said that if she had diabetes and then 
     a cure was discovered, she would go out and eat a dozen 
     donuts. She asked me what I would do. I said, ``I wouldn't go 
     out and eat a dozen donuts. I WOULD JUST BE SO RELIEVED!'' I 
     could tell that she couldn't really understand what it feels 
     like to live with diabetes every minute of every day, even 
     though she does help me with my diabetes. The second story is 
     about something that happens all of the time, because I play 
     soccer on a couple of teams. Before I go on the field I 
     always check my blood sugar to make sure that I'm not too 
     high or too low. If I'm too high, I can't play and I need to 
     have a shot of insulin. Even though I do everything I am 
     supposed to do to take care of my diabetes, this does happen 
     and I missed the beginning of our playoffs because I was too 
     high. If I'm too low, I also can't play and have to wait 
     about 15 minutes for the food that I eat to get into my 
     system. Then, during half time I do the same thing--I recheck 
     my blood sugar. At the end of the game I check again to make 
     sure I'm not too low or too high.
       I want a cure for diabetes so that I can do what I want 
     with my life--I want to be healthy and I want to help other 
     people by being a scientist who helps to find cures for 
     diseases. I also want a cure for all of the other people who 
     have diabetes. As hard as it is for me with diabetes, at 
     least I am lucky because my mom and dad and sister help me 
     try to take real good care of myself. Some kids aren't so 
     lucky and they end up in the hospital often.
       Will you please vote for more money for research, to try to 
     find a cure for diabetes? I know that with more money 
     scientists will be able to find a cure more easily. There are 
     so many areas that are being researched and if they don't 
     have enough money they can't do the research. PLEASE HELP!
           Sincerely,
                                              Philip Burgin-Young.

     

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