Lee Terry: “Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Diabetes Caucus and a former vice chair and member of a regional board that included…”

“Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Diabetes Caucus and a former vice chair and member of a regional board that included Nebraska for the American Diabetes Association before I came to the United States Congress, I rise in support of House Resolution 1690 supporting the observance of American Diabetes Month. Diabetes touches nearly every life in this country. There are an estimated 24 million Americans today afflicted with diabetes, and that number is projected to double in the next 25 years. Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose. It results when the body does not produce sufficient insulin or is unable to process insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugars, starches, and other food into needed energy for daily life. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, which allows glucose to enter and fuel the cells of the body. The most common form of type 1 diabetes is immune mediated diabetes, in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The common name for type 1 diabetes is juvenile diabetes. Even though juvenile diabetes is typically diagnosed during childhood or adolescence, it is a disease individuals must manage their entire lives.”