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DLC Position Statement on Special Diabetes ProgramsThe National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council expresses its enthusiastic support for continued funding of critical programs in diabetes prevention and care undertaken through the Special Diabetes Program. Accordingly, we are urging members of the United States Congress to renew multi-year support for the Special Diabetes Programs at current or increased levels before its September 2017 expiration.A continued federal commitment to Special Diabetes Programs is a vital part of our nation’s efforts to find a cure for diabetes and to support prevention strategies as well as better treatments and technologies to help manage diabetes and reduce complications. This support is specifically provided through the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) at the Indian Health Service (IHS) as well as the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (SDP-Type1) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).The direct and indirect costs of diabetes to our nation and individual state economies are enormous. Support for Special Diabetes Programs will save lives, improve the quality of life for millions of Americans working to manage the disease and its complications, and reduce the massive personal and financial costs that impact every American.According to the American Diabetes Association, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups. The Special Diabetes Program for Indians has demonstrated improvements in diabetes prevention and care in those communities, improvements which ultimately benefit all people with diabetes and all Americans.SDP funding enables health professionals and researchers to continue their work to find a cure for diabetes, while also assisting those who are living with Type 1 diabetes. Progress is being made daily in the fight against diabetes, especially for those groups impacted disproportionately by diabetes.About the National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership CouncilThe National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council is a non-profit patient advocacy organization. Our membership consists of past lay volunteer leadership and officers of national volunteer health organizations such as the American Diabetes Association. We are committed to improving the safety and quality of life for all children, adults and their families who are living with diabetes.
