Advocate

Federal agencies, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), work to bring diabetes under control and to alleviate the burden it places on our health care system and the United States economy through valuable research and programming. However, this work cannot continue without adequate funding.

A greater federal investment in diabetes research is needed at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The prevention, surveillance, control, and research work currently underway at the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) at the CDC, which is crucial for finding a cure and improving the lives of those living with, or at risk for, diabetes, also deserves increased support. Additionally, funding to implement the National Diabetes Prevention Program, which  is poised to dramatically cut the number of new diabetes cases in high-risk individuals, is needed.

Accordingly, for Fiscal Year 2012, the American Diabetes Association is requesting increased funding for NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) at the CDC. Additionally, the Association is requesting significant federal support for the implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program. While we recognize the challenging fiscal environment, these requests reflect the reality of the diabetes burden in the United States.

Research for a Cure: National Institutes of Health

The NIDDK at the NIH is the primary government agency that conducts research to find a cure and better treatments for diabetes.

NIH researchers have already learned a great deal about the biology of diabetes; and have made great strides toward prevention and improved treatment. In the 1950s, 20% of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes died within 20 years of the diagnosis.

Thanks to research supported by NIDDK, individuals with diabetes can take advantage of the latest advancements in treating diabetes. NIDDK-funded studies have led to breakthroughs such as the development of insulin pumps and blood glucose monitoring devices that make it easier for people with diabetes to manage the disease and avoid complications, the development of new drug therapies for type 2 diabetes.  By finding the genes and environmental factors that contribute to diabetes, researchers could develop ways to prevent or reverse the destruction of the cells that produce insulin.

NIDDK research is our best hope for a cure. NIDDK researchers have made some dramatic discoveries about the genes involved in promoting and preventing type 2 diabetes. Scientists have also found a potential link between a specific gene and type 1 diabetes. Their discoveries provide new avenues for exploration and bring us closer to establishing causes and developing new treatments for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These studies illustrate the dramatic advances in the fight against diabetes.

Investing in Prevention: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

While the burden of diabetes is currently one of the most costly health problems in America, much of the cost could be reduced through programs aimed at preventing diabetes in those at risk and increasing awareness of how to manage diabetes in people who have the disease.

CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT)

The DDT leads the government’s effort to provide comprehensive prevention and treatment programs in communities throughout the country. Its mission is to eliminate the preventable burden of diabetes through leadership, research, programs and policies that translate science into practice.

Funding for the DDT supports its Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs, located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, work to prevent diabetes, to lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels and to reduce diabetes-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations. DDT also plays a leadership role in the dissemination of diabetes prevention and treatment information through the National Diabetes Education Program, a joint effort of DDT and NIDDK.

Federal investment in the DDT also funds vital and groundbreaking translational research like the Search for Diabetes in Youth study, a collaboration between DDT and NIDDK designed to determine the impact of type 2 diabetes in youth in order to improve prevention efforts aimed at young people. DDT is also engaged in efforts to eliminate diabetes related disparities in vulnerable populations that bear a disproportionate burden of the disease in urban and rural areas. Finally, DDT maintains vital diabetes data at the state and national levels through the National Diabetes Surveillance System, which helps determine how best to deploy resources in the most appropriate and cost-effective way.

National Diabetes Prevention Program

The National Diabetes Prevention Program authorizes the CDC to expand its work in translating the successful NIH Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clinical trial to the community setting. The DPP found with lifestyle changes and moderate weight loss, individuals with prediabetes can decrease their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.  Further research at the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) achieved the same results for less than $300 a year.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program supports the creation of community-based sites where trained staff will provide those at high risk for diabetes with cost-effective, group-based lifestyle intervention programs. Local sites will be required to provide detailed program plans, ensure adequate training, and be rigorously evaluated based on the achievement of required standards and goals.  The program also includes applied research grants, which will advance the national strategy for community-based programs and improve communication strategies for high-risk communities.

The Urban Institute estimates a nationwide expansion of this type of diabetes prevention program will save $190 billion over 10 years. Based on estimates that a large portion of burden of chronic disease falls on the poor and elderly, the Institute’s report assumes that 75% of this savings would be to Medicare or Medicaid.