Our nation's health care is one of my top priorities, and one of the most pressing issues facing us today is diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious, costly, and increasingly common chronic disease in West Virginia and across the nation. Currently, 20.8 million American children and adults have diabetes, 7 percent of the population. In West Virginia, it is estimated that 106,852 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, and an additional 53,000 West Virginians have the disease, but are unaware of it. Thousands more have "pre-diabetes," meaning their blood glucose or sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis, putting them at high risk of developing the disease.

November is American Diabetes Month, and as the facts illustrate, an increasing number of West Virginians are affected by it in some way. It seems that everyone knows someone-a relative, a friend, a coworker-who suffers from the disease.

As the number of people diagnosed has increased steadily over recent years, diabetes has placed a tremendous economic burden on our country. It is estimated that one out of every 10 health care dollars is spent on diabetes and its complications, and in 2002, the direct and indirect economic toll of diabetes was $132 million nationwide.

Currently type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases and one of the principal risk factors for type 2 is obesity. In 2006, West Virginia had the third highest obesity factor in the United States. It is estimated that one out of every three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes. These statistics combined with the fact that West Virginia has the oldest median age in the nation lead to an expected continued rise in both prevalence and incidence of diabetes.

While there is currently no cure, it has been proven that people can prevent the disease's serious complications and live healthy, productive lives with proper management and treatment. Further, those at risk for developing type 2 diabetes can take steps and make lifestyle choices to delay or prevent its onset.

Seeing your doctor and getting a physical is the best way to determine your risk for developing diabetes. I encourage everyone to use American Diabetes Month as an opportunity to take a friend, relative or yourself to the doctor and determine what steps can be taken to live a longer, healthier life.

Prevention is only a part of the fight against diabetes. Earlier this year, I signed a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives' Leadership urging increased federal investment in funding for type 1 diabetes research and type 2 treatment and prevention programs. This investment will have a profound impact in lives and money saved. Increased funding allows us, as a nation, to capitalize on the many promising research opportunities that exist and accelerate the world's chances for finding a cure.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has developed a West Virginia Diabetes Prevention and Control Program for healthcare providers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to increase statewide diabetes knowledge and skills in order to promote better health care management of persons with the disease. For more information, contact the West Virginia Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at (304) 558-0644.

The American Diabetes Association is another great source of information on preventing, diagnosing, and living with diabetes. Their information is available at 1-800-DIABETES or www.diabetes.org.

Diabetes stands as one of the great public health crises of the 21st Century, but together we can commit to fight this disease and improve the lives of all Americans affected by it.