Susan Collins: “today, on behalf of myself, Senator Breaux, and Senator Abraham, I am pleased to introduce the Pediatric Diabetes…”

“today, on behalf of myself, Senator Breaux, and Senator Abraham, I am pleased to introduce the Pediatric Diabetes Research and Prevention Act. Both Senator Breaux and Senator Abraham have been leaders in the fight against diabetes. Our legislation will help us reduce the tremendous toll that diabetes takes on our Nation's children and young people. Diabetes is a devastating, lifelong condition that affects people of every age, race, and nationality. Sixteen million Americans suffer from diabetes, and about 800,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It is one of our nation's most costly diseases in both human and economic terms. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness in adults, and amputations not related to injury. It is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and shortens life expectancy up to 15 years. Moreover, diabetes costs our nation more than $105 billion a year in health-related expenditures. More than one out of every ten health care dollars and about one out of four Medicare dollars are spent on people with diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no method to prevent or cure diabetes, and available treatments have only limited success in controlling its devastating consequences.”