[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15070]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


            RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER AS AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as 
American Diabetes Month. I urge my colleagues to join me in raising 
diabetes awareness and encouraging Americans to learn more about how to 
prevent and manage this disease.
  I understand on a very personal level the challenges that come with 
this disease. Diabetes took the life of my father, and it takes the 
lives of over 68,000 other Americans each year. It is also the leading 
cause of kidney failure, and its complications include high blood 
pressure and heart disease.
  Diabetes is a growing concern for millions of Americans, but it is 
important to note that diabetes disproportionately affects minority 
communities. I represent one of the most diverse districts in the 
Nation, the 37th Congressional District of California, and racial 
disparities in health outcomes and access to care are of particular 
concern to me. In California, of 2.3 million African Americans, over 
300,000 have diabetes, and there are approximately 4,500 deaths 
annually.
  Although diabetes affects every district in every State, many 
Americans still struggle to access important information about the 
seriousness of diabetes and its complications. As a Member of Congress, 
I am working hard to change this and to ensure that all Americans 
secure their right to quality, affordable health care.
  I would like to take a moment to express my continued support for the 
Affordable Care Act, which has been and will continue to be 
instrumental in improving access to health care. The Affordable Care 
Act ensures that people with diabetes can no longer be discriminated 
against for pre-existing conditions. No longer can they be denied 
coverage or charged at higher rates. Also, the elimination of lifetime 
and annual caps on coverage means that people with diabetes and other 
chronic conditions will not have to fear an end to their care.
  Through new government policy, improved education, and greater 
awareness, we can begin to control this epidemic. Although there is no 
cure, there are many preventative measures that all Americans can take 
to reduce their risk and control their diabetes. I encourage everyone 
to exercise regularly, watch for warning signs, and make smart health 
decisions.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining me in recognizing this 
month as American Diabetes Month, and I pledge to continue standing 
with the millions of Americans who have been impacted by this disease.

                          ____________________