ALEXANDRIA, VA, Sep 15, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –With 105 million children and adults in America either living with,or at risk for developing diabetes, the American Diabetes Associationwill participate today in a Congressional briefing to highlight thecentral role that the National Institutes of Health (NIH),specifically the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive andKidney Diseases (NIDDK), plays in spurring innovative new ways toaddress and ultimately stop the nation’s growing diabetes epidemic.
the briefing, “Advancing Discovery: the Role of NIH Research inFighting Diabetes,” will be held in conjunction with the Ad-Hoc Groupfor Medical Research, a coalition of national organizations thatsupport federal funding for the NIH, and co-sponsored by theAssociation.
Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill, an Association volunteer and mother oftwo, including her daughter Cassidy, who was diagnosed with type 1diabetes at 16 months, will share her family’s experiences asparticipants in NIDDK clinical trials. the trials offer researchersvaluable information about diabetes and help make the case forincreased federal investment in NIDDK in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012.Albanese-O’Neill, who is from Gainesville, Florida, will be joined atthe briefing by NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin Rodgers and diabetesresearcher Dr. Rena Wing of Brown University.
the briefing comes just as Members of Congress are considering how tofund federal programs in FY 2012, including the NIDDK. one of the 27institutes at the NIH, NIDDK is the primary federal agency thatconducts research to find a cure for diabetes and improve diabetescare. Because of research supported by NIDDK, individuals withdiabetes can take advantage of the latest advancements in treatingand preventing the disease.
Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States havediabetes and one-fourth of those are unaware they have it. Another 79million, or one in five Americans, have prediabetes, placing them atincreased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. a study by the LewinGroup found the total costs of diabetes, including undiagnoseddiabetes, prediabetes, gestational diabetes, and related conditionsin the United States was $218 billion in 2007.
“If left unaddressed, diabetes will overwhelm the healthcare systemwith tragic consequences,” said Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill. “Tochange this future, we need to increase our commitment to NIDDK in away that reflects the burden diabetes poses both for us and for ourchildren. my family has been honored to be a part of clinical trialsthat could one day lead to ensuring that families like mine canprevent other children from developing this devastating disease.”
the American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stopdiabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affectedby diabetes. the Association funds research to prevent, cure andmanage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities;provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to thosedenied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our missionis to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of allpeople affected by diabetes. For more information please call theAmerican Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) orvisit diabetes.org . Information from both these sources isavailable in English and Spanish.
Contact: Lauren Gleason 703-549-1500 ext. 2622
SOURCE: American Diabetes Association
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