Press Release
July 27, 2011
Rep. Susan Davis Leads Bipartisan Call to Jumpstart Diabetes Prevention Program
WASHINGTON – Diabetes is a serious and costly disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three adults could have type 2 diabetes by 2050. Since prevention efforts can keep those numbers from becoming a reality, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) led a bipartisan call for the initial funding of a key diabetes prevention program.
In a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, a coalition of more than 100 members of the House of Representatives requested that the secretary fund the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). The goal of the NDPP is to target Americans at risk for type 2 diabetes.
“With 79 million Americans at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, it’s critical that we give them the hope and knowledge to make the healthy choices necessary to prevent diabetes,” said Davis. “I’m proud of the strong showing from House members on the need to take a proactive role in diabetes prevention. The National Diabetes Prevention Program is designed after a proven program to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. One of the best parts about this prevention program is it is a public-private venture. The federal government jumpstarts the program with an initial investment, and the private sector keeps it going.”
According to research done by the American Diabetes Association, the total cost of diabetes for Davis’s congressional district is $402 million. This estimate includes $277 million in medical costs and $124 million in lost productivity.
The secretary has the authority to fund the NDPP which was authorized by the health care reform bill. Davis pushed the language creating the NDPP based on her legislation the Diabetes Prevention Act in the 111th Congress.
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