THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY M. SMITH, OBERLANDER, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, BOYD, K. BOYLE, BRENNAN, BROOKS, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRELL, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, KAVULICH, W. KELLER, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD AND TALLMAN, JANUARY 10, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 10, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing January 2012 as "Diabetes Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes the importance of

diagnosing and treating diabetes effectively; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes the importance of

promoting diabetes awareness and education; and

WHEREAS, The most recent statistics regarding expenditures

nationwide for the direct and indirect treatment of diabetes

reflect costs of $174 billion; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, 18.8 million cases are

diagnosed, seven million cases go undiagnosed and 79 million

individuals are in a prediabetic state, making diabetes the

sixth leading cause of death; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 25.8 million children and adults have

diabetes in the United States; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, 8% of the general population,

14.7% of the African-American population, 10.4% of the Hispanic

population and 15.1% of the Native-American population have

diabetes, and each year 12,000 to 24,000 people nationwide lose

their eyesight as a result of diabetes; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 10.2% of all women 20 years of age or

older have diabetes although one-quarter of them do not know it;

and

WHEREAS, Approximately 11.2% of all men 20 years of age or

older have diabetes and one-third of them do not know it; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in

people between 20 and 74 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Other complications of diabetes include heart

disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve disease and amputation;

and

WHEREAS, Control of blood glucose levels in people with

diabetes has been shown to dramatically decrease the likelihood

of the occurrence of complications, thus improving the patients'

quality of life and decreasing health care expenditures; and

WHEREAS, Education concerning diabetes is critical in raising

awareness and in managing diabetes with a healthy lifestyle;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize January

2012 as "Diabetes Month" in Pennsylvania to highlight the value

of education in providing diabetes treatment, which is cost

effective and improves the quality of life for people with

diabetes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That people with diabetes, their families and

friends and health care professionals in this Commonwealth be

urged to utilize this month to increase awareness and

understanding of diabetes so that in the future people with

diabetes will be better able to care for their own needs and

others will be better prepared to serve the needs of people with

diabetes.