[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 150 (Tuesday, November 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 5738

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2002

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5738. 
Passage of this bill will continue to fund important Type 1 diabetes 
research programs and additional treatment and prevention programs for 
American Indians and Alaska Natives through the Indian Health Service.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill could not have come at a more 
critical time. Juvenile diabetes has a dramatic impact on the lives and 
families of those affected. Diabetes also places a significant strain 
on our health care system, costing the nation more than $100 billion 
annually and accounting for one in four Medicare dollars. Individuals 
with juvenile diabetes and their families are full of hope, however, 
due to recent scientific advances that show real promise for curing 
this disease. But federal support for such research must be increased 
to continue this progress.
  The Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 funding provided in this bill 
will be used to continue progress in this area. The additional funding 
will help develop and clinically test methods that will render the need 
for insulin obsolete. Clinical trials are underway involving the 
transplantation of insulin producing cells into individuals with 
juvenile diabetes. The procedure, known as the Edmonton Protocol, has 
provided success for the approximately 80 percent of the patients who 
have received these transplants as they have been cured of juvenile 
diabetes and no longer require insulin injections. As of Janaury 2002, 
there were 68 islet transplantation centers around the world. The 
increased dollars provided in this measure would help researchers 
replicate and expand upon this success.
  With regard to American Indians and Alaska Natives, this population 
has a much heavier disease burden than the general population. This 
includes a higher death rate from a variety of diseases, including 
diabetes, than other Americans. Type 2 adult-onset diabetes is a 
particular problem, with 12.2% of American Indians those over 19 years 
old suffering from the disease.
  Special Diabetes Program funding for American Indians and Alaska 
Natives has given tribes the ability to focus diabetes prevention and 
treatment activities where they can make the biggest difference--at the 
local level. There are approximately 318 diabetes prevention and 
treatment programs serving American Indians and Alaska Natives as a 
result of program.
  This funding will make a big difference in reducing the incidence of 
diabetes in the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Juvenile Diabetes Research 
Foundation, the National Indian Health Board and the National Congress 
of American Indians and their member tribes, and the entire staffs of 
these organizations for their tireless efforts in working to get this 
bill passed.
  Mr. Speaker, we have won several victories in improving health care 
for people with diabetes. Passage of H.R. 5738 ensures another victory 
for people with diabetes. It also moves us one step closer to our goal 
of finding a cure.

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