[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 13 (Friday, January 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E111-E112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE EL PASO DIABETES ASSOCIATION AND DR. ROBERT 
                              CHRISTENSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 29, 2010

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize and thank 
the El Paso Diabetes Association, its Executive Director, Mr. Henry 
Brutus, and his team for their continued leadership and dedication to 
educating our community about living with and preventing diabetes.
  The statistics regarding diabetes are staggering. Diabetes is an 
epidemic affecting nearly 24 million Americans and another 57 million 
with pre-diabetes. Every 24 hours, 4,100 people in the United States 
are diagnosed with diabetes. If current trends continue, one in three 
children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in 
their lifetime. For minority populations, this number is nearly one in 
two. In El Paso, as many as one in six people are currently living with 
diabetes, and many more are unaware that their lifestyle choices are 
putting them at risk or have already made them pre-diabetic.
  Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, amputation, 
blindness, and kidney disease. In 2007, diabetes cost the United States 
$174 billion in direct and indirect costs. Locally that same year, El 
Paso hospitals incurred more than $75 million in emergency costs 
related to complications with diabetes. However, these complications 
and costs are for the most part preventable through education.
  It is important that we all understand how diabetes affects us, our 
families, and our community. Since 1968, the El Paso Diabetes 
Association has been an invaluable asset to my community by providing 
personalized services for those interested in learning about diabetes 
management and prevention. The organization's mission to promote 
education and early detection, empower people to take control of their 
health, and increase access to resources that make these goals possible 
are all exemplified by the work done by this year's Person of Vision.

[[Page E112]]

  Dr. Robert Christenson has been involved, with the El Paso Diabetes 
Association for 15 years and started the ``In Control Teen Camp'' to 
teach young El Pasoans how to prevent the onset of diabetes by staying 
fit and eating healthy. His service to the organization and our 
community is making a positive impact on the lives of our youth and is 
stemming this growing epidemic. Dr. Christenson is most deserving of 
this honor, and I applaud his work and dedication to make El Paso a 
better and healthier place.
  Today, I am proud to recognize Dr. Christenson and everyone at the El 
Paso Diabetes Association, and I greatly appreciate all of their hard 
work for the betterment of our community.