Diabetes mellitus | Be a Seed for Change

Washington State … Make sure Rep. McDermott doesn’t vote for these cuts.

Your Representative’s vote this week will impact the future of programs essential to both preventing diabetes and improving the health of people with diabetes and all Americans.

Take action now to protect vital public health and prevention programs!

Last week, you took action to protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which includes the initial funding for the critical National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). The NDPP will save both lives and money only if it is expanded to communities around the country. However, the Prevention Fund is still being threatened. Members of the House of Representatives will vote again this week on whether to fully repeal this vital fund, gutting efforts to improve our nation’s health!

The bill under consideration also repeals key provisions and funding established as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and weakens Medicaid eligibility, programs needed to protect people with diabetes and improve their access to affordable healthcare. In addition to cuts in funding for state insurance exchanges, the bill repeals portions of ACA that make health care more affordable for low- and moderate- income families. Further, it repeals the state requirement to uphold their end of the bargain when it comes to Medicaid, which would allow states to roll back eligibility standards and create barriers to coverage for millions of people with diabetes.

We need to make sure diabetes programs and prevention efforts don’t get slashed. Tell your legislators RIGHT NOW to oppose the budget reconciliation legislation!

Take this chance to make your voice heard and tell your legislators to oppose any efforts to eliminate funding for these vital programs!

Thank you for your help in the fight to Stop Diabetes®.

Sincerely,
L. Hunter Limbaugh Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association

L. Hunter Limbaugh Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association

It is with immense joy that I share with you the good news: with your help, 268 U.S. Representatives and 71 Senators expressed their support for the Special Diabetes Program by signing onto the House and Senate Special Diabetes Program Dear Colleague letters! You can view the House letter here, and the Senate letter will be up on www.diabetes.org soon. This is a great first step as we work toward the program’s reauthorization this year.
The SDP represents an important investment from the federal government to combat, prevent and cure diabetes. It has produced advances in halting and reversing the complications of diabetes; progress in identifying environmental triggers of type 1 diabetes; and a 28% reduction in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in the Native American communities – among its many other accomplishments.
Last month, we asked those of you living in the Congressional districts and states of Representatives and Senators who had yet to sign-on to this letter of support to email your legislators encouraging them to do so. And your voices were heard!
Together, we will continue to educate Members of Congresson the importance of SDP and work toward its reauthorization. But for now, let’s all celebrate this first success in our efforts toward extending this vital program into the future.Sincerely,

L. Hunter Limbaugh Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association

Find out more about the American Diabetes Association’s advocacy efforts: