Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) announced that his legislation to lower the incidence of gestational diabetes and prevent affected women and their children from later developing Type 2 diabetes passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health on Thursday.

“Over the last 15 years, the number of Americans with diabetes has doubled to over 20 million, with approximately 135,000 American women diagnosed with gestational diabetes annually.  It can occur in women who have never had diabetes, but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.  While the condition usually goes away after pregnancy, it could have significant future impacts on both mother and child.  We need to be more proactive in detecting, treating and slowing the incidents of gestational diabetes.  My Gestational Diabetes Act of 2010 (GEDI – H.R. 5354),   will help us accomplish those goals,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the Subcommittee on Health, and primary author of the legislation. “The statistics surrounding diabetes are staggering, but we must always remember there is a human face behind every number, with far too many of them being children.”

Gestational diabetes usually occurs during weeks 24-28 of pregnancy, and usually goes away after pregnancy. However, if untreated, it could have significant impacts on the mother and her children giving them higher risks of developing Type 2 diabetes among other potential complications.

The legislation would:

• Create a Research Advisory Committee, headed by the Centers for Disease Control, and consisting of representatives from federal agencies and health organizations,
• Develop research projects to expand and enhance monitoring by standardizing procedures for more accurate data collection and diagnosis.
• Provide for methods to track afflicted mothers to better develop prevention methods,
• Provide grants to organizations and agencies to expand community-based activities, help State-based health programs with prevention, and train health providers to treat the condition.

 Rep. Engel added, “The fight against diabetes is ongoing and one which needs constant attention. We cannot rest because the disease never does. By continuing to develop ways to identify, treat and prevent we can move continually closer to the eventual goal – finding a cure.”

The legislation now goes to the full Energy & Commerce Committee.  It is supported by the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Medical Women’s Association, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and the Society for Women’s Health Research and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

To view Rep. Engel’s comments - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwVJpMp2Ms0

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