[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT FOR THE ARTIFICIAL PANCREAS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2011

  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for advancement of the artificial pancreas, a transformative medical 
technology under consideration at the Food and Drug Administration that 
would help millions of Americans who suffer from diabetes.
  In my home state of Ohio, approximately 900,000 people have 
diabetes--nearly 10 percent of the state's population. This unforgiving 
disease is not only the leading cause of kidney failure and adult-onset 
blindness, it also causes more than 80,000 amputations each year and 
increases the chance of suffering a heart attack.
  The toll of diabetes is not limited to health. Americans spend $174 
billion each year in diabetes-related treatments, with a significant 
portion of that figure going toward addressing long-term complications. 
With millions of lives at stake and billions of dollars being spent, 
this is a disease that demands our attention and we must strive to find 
better treatments for it until a cure is found.
  The artificial pancreas is one such technology that automatically 
adjusts blood sugar levels for people with type 1 diabetes. With this 
technology, people will see optimal blood sugar control and as a 
result, significant reductions in complications associated with type 1 
diabetes. Furthermore, an independent study has projected that Medicare 
will save $2 billion over 25 years once this technology is finally 
available to the diabetes community.
  Currently, this technology is awaiting draft guidance from the Food 
and Drug Administration as to how clinical trials can proceed. The FDA 
has a self-imposed deadline of December 1st to issue this draft 
guidance and it is my sincere hope that they will not only meet this 
goal, but will give full credence to clinical expert recommendations so 
as to assure that this life-saving technology can safely and quickly be 
put in the hands of the people who need it.

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