Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act

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The Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act would increase our ability to prevent new cases of diabetes and improve disease management. Take Action.

Diabetes is a pressing public health issue, and a growing challenge for our nation’s health care system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes has doubled over the past fifteen years.

Diabetes accounts for over $174 billion in terms of direct medical expenditures and lost productivity, and these numbers are only likely to increase. The Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act (S.1343/H.R.2241) would increase our availability to prevent new cases of diabetes and improve disease management, through the following mechanisms:

Codify the Division of Diabetes Translation at the CDC

This program would place into law the Division of Diabetes Translation, authorizing their work in diabetes surveillance, translational research, and diabetes education activities. The bill would also direct the CDC to continue its work in coordinating the National Diabetes Education Program, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, and its partnerships with states to carry out local diabetes control and prevention efforts.

• Authorizes expenditures of $90 million in FY 2008 for this section.

Establishes Treatment Demonstration Projects

The goal of these pilot projects is to help translate the Diabetes Prevention Program, which found that diet and exercise interventions were successful at controlling diabetes, into clinical interventions that can be replicated at the state, local and provider level.  Funding would be distributed to academic centers, in partnership with state and local health departments, to identify and screen persons with pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes, and provide those with diabetes access to appropriate lifestyle interventions.

• Authorizes $10 million annually from FY 2008 to FY 2012 for these projects.

Improves State Surveillance and Education Efforts

The Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Act would increase the resources available for the diabetes programs of state and local health departments, with funding directed specifically towards surveillance and education efforts.

• Authorizes $10 million annually from FY08 to FY12 for these grants.

Expands the Understanding of Diabetes as a Co-Occurring Condition

Many Americans with diabetes are also being treated for other diseases, which may or may not pose complications for their diabetes treatment. This bill would provide grants to academic centers, in conjunction with state and local health departments, to investigate ways to improve overall health outcomes in people living with diabetes and other co-occurring chronic conditions.

• Authorizes $10 million annually from FY08 to FY12 for these grants.