Shame on the U.S. Government for Dismal Diabetes Funding: Call to Congress June 7 to 9

Diabetes advocacy groups are understandably horribly upset and furious that the U.S. government is slashing funds to help fight diabetes in this country just as the number of diabetics has been increasing.

In order to attract the public’s, media’s and legislators’ attention to this worthwhile cause, the American Diabetes Association is hosting a "Call to Congress" event June 7 to 9, when hundreds of diabetes advocates will descend on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress to ask the government to increase funding for diabetes research and prevention and to take a greater role in treatment and prevention.

In addition, a grassroots rally or "Call to Congress" day will be held at the US Capitol June 8, beginning at 10 am.

Members of Children with Diabetes will be there, and a huge Quilt for Life that features the handiwork and experiences of diabetic children will be on display at the National Mall.

The events in D.C. are intended to point out the fact that diabetes has risen by over 14 percent in the last two years so that 20.8 million Americans have diabetes (or 7 percent of the U.S. population). That’s up from 18.2 million people in 2003. So this is certainly not the time to cut diabetes funding.

Despite the news that diabetes is on the rise, in its 2006 appropriations bill last year, Congress cut funding to the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) by $9 million. It also slashed money to the.CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation by $300,000 — the first time this division’s funding was cut. (Does this make sense to you? Sure amazes me!)

Now, the proposed budget for 2007 calls for another cut for the second year in a year — an $11 million cut to the NIDDK.

Special thanks to the Diabetes Blog and the Diabetes Education and Research Center for helpful background information.