Political Quotes

“I rise today in recognition of November as American Diabetes Month. National studies estimate 23.6 million Americans have diabetes and a quarter of people with diabetes do not know they have this disease. The State of South Dakota is home to nearly 40,000 diabetic adults, a figure which does not take into account the number of people who are undiagnosed, who are living with prediabetes, or those under age 18 who have child-onset diabetes, which is a growing problem linked to the increase of childhood obesity. American Diabetes Month focuses on increased awareness of the disease and its risks. The disease carries with it an increased rate of heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation of the lower extremities, among other associated health problems. As the prevalence of diabetes increases, we are beginning to understand the costs to both our citizens' health and to our economy. The high costs to our government in direct medical and indirect costs, coupled with the personal costs of rising health care coverage and treatment, make diabetes control and prevention a national priority.”