[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 48 (Monday, December 3, 2001)]
[Pages 1729-1731]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7507--National Diabetes Month, 2001

 November 29, 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

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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.
     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.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., December 3, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on November 30, and it will be published in the Federal 
Register on December 4.

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