[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE DIABETES PREVENTION ACT OF 2009

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                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address a 
serious and expanding health problem. Rates of type 2 diabetes continue 
to rise--despite our knowledge of how to prevent it--and it is time we 
took action to reverse the disturbing trend.
  Thirty years ago, there was no known or proven strategy to fight the 
onset of type 2 diabetes. Now, we know how to delay onset of this 
disease, or prevent it completely, according to the National Institutes 
of Health, NIH. And yet, we are not using this potentially life-saving 
knowledge to our greatest benefit.
  Meanwhile, those who develop the illness still suffer from and can't 
always properly recognize its symptoms, including fatigue and vision 
problems. When type 2 diabetes causes those symptoms to progress, it 
can lead to detrimental and heartbreaking results.
  Furthermore, the cost to care for diabetes patients reached $174 
billion in 2007, and that number is only expected to get larger. The 
illness is a growing problem in the population as a whole, and appears 
to be increasing among children and adolescents, according to the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. It makes sense to work 
to prevent onset of type 2 diabetes. This will both ensure quality of 
life for patients and reduce overall health spending--especially when 
the number of Americans at risk is predicted to grow.
  I am introducing the Diabetes Prevention Act of 2009 to put our 
medical knowledge to use to reduce and delay instances of type 2 
diabetes. Through the CDC, communities will be able to apply for grants 
to establish prevention programs designed to assist those diagnosed 
with pre-diabetes. Working with local medical officials, the programs 
will help patients with good diet, exercise plans, and other lifestyle 
changes needed to prevent or delay onset of the illness.
  The Diabetes Prevention Act of 2009 builds on the success community 
organizations have had with similar programs in preventing illness. It 
is crucial that we address this serious problem and act now to stem the 
number of cases of type 2 diabetes developing in our country.
  I urge consideration of the legislation.

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