[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER AS AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, every minute, three people 
are diagnosed with diabetes. Every day, almost 200 people undergo an 
amputation because of the disease. Fifty people go blind and one 
hundred thirty people enter end-stage kidney disease programs. If 
current trends continue, one in three children will face a future with 
diabetes. That is one of the most frightening statistics I have read in 
a long time.
  The disease is at epidemic proportions, with nearly 24 million 
children and adults living with the disease and another 57 million 
Americans with prediabetic conditions, according to the American 
Diabetes Association.
  So what is the cost of this epidemic? Almost one in every five health 
care dollars is attributed to caring for someone with diabetes. Just in 
my district in Pennsylvania, a 2007 estimate says it cost more than 
$323 million. Nationwide the price tag is $218 billion and climbing, 
but that figure includes complications from undiagnosed diabetes, 
prediabetic, and gestational diabetes.
  November is American Diabetes Month. I have cosponsored H. Res. 1690, 
a resolution recognizing November as American Diabetes Month, and I 
encourage Members to visit diabetes.org to learn of the ABCs of 
diabetes and keeping it under control.

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