    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 9204--OCT. 31, 2014

    Proclamation 9204 of October 31, 2014

    National Diabetes Month, 2014

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Today, nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes. This devastating
    disease affects men and women of all backgrounds and ages, and can cause
    serious health complications, including blindness, kidney failure, heart
    disease, stroke, and the loss of lower limbs. During National Diabetes
    Month, we stand with all those battling this chronic, life-threatening
    disease and their families, and we pay tribute to the advocates,
    researchers, and health care professionals who are committed to
    supporting healthy lifestyles in communities across our country.
    Most commonly diagnosed in young people, type 1 diabetes has no known
    method of prevention. However, it can be managed with regular exercise,
    good nutrition, and proper medication. Type 2 diabetes accounts for
    roughly 90 to 95 percent of diagnosed cases of diabetes in adults, and
    the risk of developing it is commonly associated with older age,
    obesity, physical inactivity, and a family history of diabetes. African
    Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, and some Asian
    Americans and Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for this
    disease and its complications. In some cases, losing weight, eating
    healthy, and being more active can help prevent or delay type 2
    diabetes. Americans who are at risk for this disease can consult with a
    health care provider to discuss the steps they can take to reduce their
    chances of developing diabetes.
    My Administration is committed to finding a cure for both type 1
    and type 2 diabetes, and we continue to invest in critical research to
    prevent this disease, increase the quality of care, and reduce its
    devastating complications. Established to help translate the impor-
    tant findings of this research into practice, the National Diabetes
    Education Program works to raise awareness of this disease among
    high risk individuals and to improve treatment and outcomes for those
    living with it. To learn more about diabetes, individuals can visit
    www.NDEP.NIH.gov.
    The Affordable Care Act prevents health insurance companies from denying
    coverage due to a pre-existing condition, such as a diabetes diagnosis,
    and requires that insurers cover recommended diabetes screenings without
    a copay for adults with high blood pressure. My

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    Administration also encourages public-private partnerships that are
    helping Americans at risk of type 2 diabetes take action to prevent the
    onset of the disease. And as more than one-third of American children
    and adolescents are overweight or obese--putting a new generation at
    risk for diabetes--First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative
    seeks to increase opportunities for young people to engage in physical
    activity and make healthy choices.
    All Americans deserve the chance to lead healthy lives and achieve their
    full potential. During National Diabetes Month, we honor the memory of
    those we have lost to diabetes, and we recommit to pursuing solutions
    that will shed light on this disease, moving our Nation closer to a
    healthier tomorrow for all.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2014 as
    National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans, school systems,
    government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers,
    research institutions, and other interested groups to join in activities
    that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage the
    disease.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
    October, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    ninth.
    BARACK OBAMA