On the recordNovember 9, 2017
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Over 30 million children and adults, including myself, suffer from diabetes. Another 84 million have prediabetes, and 90 percent of them don't even know it. Diabetes can cause stroke, blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, loss of toes, feet, or even legs. In addition to the personal toll this disease takes on the lives of those affected, healthcare costs for diabetic patients are 2.3 times greater than for those without diabetes. This awful disease costs the healthcare system an estimated $322 billion. Rates of diabetes have risen dramatically, unfortunately, in recent years. We must do something to stop it. The U.S. Congress is working towards that end. I was proud to have worked on the 21st Century Cures Act, which invests in research for a cure. The bill streamlines the FDA approval process and provides more money for research to the NIH. There is much more we can do, Mr. Speaker, to tackle this serious public health issue. ____________________
