Alexandria, Virginia - The American Diabetes Association applauds Congress and President Obama for enacting an omnibus spending bill that will boost funding for important diabetes research and prevention programs.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016 increased discretionary funding for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to $1.818 billion, an increase of over $68 million compared to FY2015. This robust funding will allow the institute to expand promising research toward improved treatments and move us closer to a cure for diabetes. The legislation also provided significantly increased funding of $170.129 million for the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The $30 million funding increase will help the agency better carry out its mission to reduce the preventable burden of diabetes. Last, the spending bill doubled funding for the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program to $20 million. This increased funding will allow more individuals with prediabetesa condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
People with prediabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. Other names for prediabetes are impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose to access evidence-based community prevention programs that can help lower their risk for developing type 2 diabetesa condition characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by either a lack of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older adults but can appear in young people.. Again, the American Diabetes Association thanks Congress and the President for making diabetes a priority. We look forward to seeing the progress that is made next year in the fight to Stop Diabetes<sup>®</sup>.
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org .
