[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 149 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FUND

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                          HON. PETER J. ROSKAM

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight the good work of 
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.
  The Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund began in 1970 from a parent's 
idea to begin a fundraising effort with the aim to promote the research 
of a cure for juvenile diabetes. To date, the organization has raised 
more than $1.5 billion, including $107 million last year alone. More 
than 80 percent of those funds go directly to support research and 
research-related education.
  JDRF now has over 100 locations around the world and currently funds 
research in 19 countries.
  Diabetes and its complications cost the United States more than $174 
billion a year and it is a growing epidemic. Every year, there are 
roughly 30,000 new cases of Type-1 diabetes discovered in America and 
more than 1.6 million cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year. 
That's one every 30 seconds.
  Type-1 Diabetes typically affects young adults and children. They are 
forced at a young age to learn how to monitor their blood levels and 
inject insulin when it's low. This can also be a worrisome and anxious 
experience.
  This is why we must encourage the Food and Drug Administration to 
continue in its approval process for the artificial pancreas. Earlier 
this year, 60 Senators and 250 Representatives sent a letter to the FDA 
Commissioner Margaret Hamburg expressing their support for the 
artificial pancreas.
  This new device will allow children to return to their lives and give 
parents the peace of mind in knowing that their children will not 
forget to check their insulin levels. The artificial pancreas is a 
device that can automatically monitor and regulate glucose levels 
without requiring blood to be drawn.
  Jeffrey Brewer, President and CEO of JDRF, said, ``An artificial 
pancreas, which would automatically monitor and regulate glucose 
levels, has the potential to transform the care of people with type 1 
diabetes.'' It estimated the artificial pancreas could save Medicare 
$23 million over 10 years and $1.9 billion over 25 years by lowering 
the number of complications associated with the disease.
  I am hopeful that the FDA will stick to its publicly announced 
December 2011 draft guidance deadline. This will allow us to move into 
the crucial next phase of real world testing of this potentially life 
saving device. I would urge my colleagues to continue to monitor this 
situation and ensure that the FDA stays true to their word on the 
guidance.
  There may not be a cure for diabetes yet but with organizations like 
the JDRF leading the way in encouraging research and funding grant 
programs we are getting closer to a cure each day.

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