[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 62907-62908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30145]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 4, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 62907]]

                Proclamation 7507 of November 29, 2001

                
National Diabetes Month, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During the past century, we have made significant 
                progress in our fight against disease. Through public 
                health campaigns and aggressive research, we have 
                eliminated polio in the United States, reduced the harm 
                of influenza outbreaks, and developed revolutionary new 
                medications that provide relief and healing from many 
                chronic and acute illnesses. However, effective 
                treatments and cures to numerous other illnesses remain 
                elusive and demand our continued attention and 
                resources. One of the most prevalent and difficult of 
                these is diabetes, which currently afflicts more than 
                16 million Americans.

                Diabetes can cause blindness, renal disease, severe 
                nerve damage, heart disease, strokes, and even death. 
                This year approximately 800,000 men, women, and 
                children in the United States will develop diabetes, 
                and health officials estimate that it will be a 
                contributing factor in almost 200,000 deaths. The total 
                economic cost for providing medical treatment for 
                diabetes patients and for disability and deaths related 
                to the disease is approximately $100 billion a year. 
                More troubling are statistics indicating that more than 
                5 million Americans are unaware of their diabetic 
                condition, seriously jeopardizing their long-term 
                health and well-being. An additional 10 million 
                citizens are at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes 
                due largely to physical inactivity, obesity, and poor 
                diet.

                Recent scientific findings demonstrate that modest, 
                consistent exercise and a healthy diet can curtail the 
                risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals by nearly 60 
                percent. This information provides great hope in our 
                efforts to reduce the incidence of diabetes and creates 
                a renewed sense of urgency to ensure that all Americans 
                are aware of practical steps that can be taken to 
                reduce their risk for diabetes.

                My Administration is strongly committed to fighting 
                diabetes both by working in cooperation with dedicated 
                staff and volunteers of private organizations to 
                develop strong public education programs and by 
                increased Federal funding for medical research. The 
                Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the 
                National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established 
                the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) to help 
                familiarize Americans with the risks of diabetes and 
                what can be done to minimize its complications. The 
                NDEP will also offer practical information about 
                preventing the cardiovascular complications of diabetes 
                through the campaign, ``Be Smart About Your Heart: The 
                ABCs of Diabetes.'' Medical research is providing 
                exciting advances in our prevention and treatment 
                strategies for diabetes, and my fiscal year 2002 budget 
                reflects a significant increase in funding to continue 
                the valuable diabetes research programs at the NIH.

                I am confident that our Nation's health care 
                professionals, nurses, scientists, educators, and 
                volunteers will continue to provide quality care to 
                those who currently suffer from diabetes, and, through 
                their work, we will one day find a cure for this 
                terrible disease. On the observance of National 
                Diabetes Month, we honor those who are working 
                diligently to advance our knowledge and understanding 
                of diabetes. We also recognize the value of educating 
                ourselves about health risks and the importance of 
                healthy lifestyle habits.

[[Page 62908]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim November 2001 as National 
                Diabetes Month. I call on all Americans to increase 
                their awareness of the risk factors and symptoms 
                related to diabetes and to observe this month with 
                appropriate activities and programs.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-30145
Filed 12-3-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P