Many of you already know, I am a supporter of the Diabetes Research Institute and a strong believer that they are "The Best Hope for a Cure".
However, I do also love to get the emails, newsletters, etc from other organizations as well, such as the ADA and JDRF, as they also often times have some great information regarding things happening in the ways of diabetes management, the government regarding diabetes, etc.
This afternoon, I checked my email and saw that I had an email from the ADA. It was one that was kind of disturbing to me honestly. Kind of gut-wrenching.
It stated that our Senate is considering a proposal that will cut funds to federal health programs, including diabetes research funding.
Don't let this happen!
For those who may not be directly affected by diabetes, or know the statistics, according to the Diabetes Research Institute & Foundation:
- In the last decade, the cases of people living with diabetes jumped more than 40 percent – to almost 24 million Americans.
- Diabetes takes more lives than AIDS and breast cancer combined -- claiming the life of 1 American every 3 minutes.
- It is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart failure and stroke.
- Annually, diabetes costs the American public more than $218 billion.
We can not allow our Senate to vote in favor of this bill! Without the financial help of our federal government, the American public's diabetes care costs will skyrocket even higher!
Without the financial help of our federal government, organizations like the DRI, ADA, and JDRF will be greatly hindered in finding better treatment plans, possible preventions, and CURES for diabetes.
The ADA estimates that without this federal funding help, 1 in 3 children will face a future with diabetes; 105 million Americans with diabetes or prediabetes will continue to wait in vain for a cure.
Let's band together, and fight back against this bill! Let's show our federal government why we NEED this federal funding! Let's do it for our children!
Please click here to tell your Senator to vote against this proposal.
When I filled out the above link, I also added a little personal touch to the already typed up letter. I would like to also encourage all of you to take a few moments to do the same.
Here is what I wrote:
My 5 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in November 2008. This disease has changed our lives! It is a constant, daily and nightly battle to ward off life-threatening hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, finding a balance between food, exercise, and appropriate amount of insulin needed. Parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes go to bed at night, afraid for the lives of our children; afraid that when they wake up the next morning, their child may not.. due to an unknown hypoglycemic event that took our precious children from this earth. Many parents, including myself, are unable to sleep most nights because of this very reason. Instead, we take "cat naps" during the day, if we are lucky enough. We pray every single night for a better treatment options, and especially, for a cure of this disease. Parents, children, and adults living with diabetes are warriors... warriors fighting a battle against an invisible, unpredictable enemy. If you approve this proposal, you are taking the much needed ammunition away from these warriors! Hundreds of innocent children die every year at the "hands" of diabetes, often due to something called Dead In Bed Syndrome (a diabetes complication with an unknown cause, but is believed to be due to unknown hypoglycemic events). The odds are against these children. Even with "perfect" managment care, a child can die at any moment due to the Dead In Bed Syndrome! If this was your child, I am certain you would feel as strongly as I do, as the rest of the Diabetes Community does, about this. I am putting my child's life, and future, in your hands, to make the right decision, and vote against this proposal.
We can make a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes! It only takes our voices, and a little effort!
2 comments:
I wonder how these things happen. You know damn well based on statistics alone that the very people threatening to cut funding have children in need of research. How? How do they sleep at night?
Oh, I hear ya there Jackie, I'm sure some of them might. But, we as the people of this nation, need to speak up to the "leaders" about what is important to us, including regarding funding for research for various causes. I think this is just part of the gov't.'s attempts to "cut budgets" and dig themselves out of the deficit problem, but, honestly, there are MANY other alternatives they can take to help fix that problem. Leave the funding for research for our kids ALONE! lol.
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