Diabetes Prevention
Twenty-four million American adults have diabetes, including 228,000 Minnesotans. This costs more than $174 billion each year to treat. Another 57 million Americans, including an estimated 1.12 million Minnesotans, have pre-diabetes, which is a reversible condition. Preventing these Americans from developing full-blown diabetes will save billions of dollars and prevent unnecessary suffering. Studies have shown that participating in structured lifestyle intervention programs can help pre-diabetics reduce their risk of developing diabetes by nearly 60 percent. These evidence-based programs are provided in partnership with community organizations like the YMCA that have been trained to deliver the program, keeping costs to a minimum and providing a great return on investment. Senator Franken introduced the Diabetes Prevention Act of 2009 with Senator Dick Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, so that these programs could be replicated across the country. This legislation was included in the Affordable Care Act, the health reform law that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. Senator Franken recently won awards from the American Diabetes Association and the YMCA of the USA for his work to reduce the spread of diabetes in America.
