The Special Diabetes Programs, or SDP for short, are important responses to diabetes by the federal government. These programs seek to prevent, treat, and cure diabetes. They were renewed as part of a large bill in April 2015 for two years - and of course, we want them to be renewed again in 2017.Two significant parts of the SDP are the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) at the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (SDP-type1) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).The Special Diabetes Program for Indians was created in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act. It addresses the epidemic of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These communities have the highest prevalence of diabetes in the United States at almost three times the national average. In some cases over 50% of adults have been diagnosed diabetes andAmerican Indian and Alaska Native are 170% more likely to die from diabetes.The Program for Type 1 Diabetes provides research into stopping the autoimmune attacks at the core of type 1, studying the regeneration of beta cells, artificial pancreas and more. SDPI bring additional resources to native communities where the incidence of diabetes is significantly higher.The Special Diabetes Programs together translate research to care to combat diabetes including:
- - Researching genetic factor contributing to diabetes.
- - Studying environmental that contribute to the disease.
- - Paths to preserve beta cell function.
- - New ways to monitor glucose and deliver insulin.
- - Behavioral approaches to slow and prevent type 2 diabetes.
- - Investigating the cellular and molecular pathways of diabetes development.
- - Clinical trials of new diabetes treatments and medications.
The Special Diabetes Programs were approved as part of a larger piece of legislation, H.R. 2 the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The bill passed with bipartisan support, 92 to 8 in the senate and 392 to 37 in the House of Representatives.(Curious as to who voted FOR and who vote AGAINST the Special Diabetes Programs in 2015? Click here.)
In 2017, there will be another push for funding for SDP, but why wait until then? This is an election year, so it is a great time to send a message of thanks to those who cast a #Vote4Diabetes.Take action, ACT NOW to say thank you - and remind your representatives in Congress that until diabetes is cured, we need federal research funding!