PRINTER'S NO. 1204
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
204
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY MARTIN, BROWNE, MENSCH, ARGALL, PHILLIPS-HILL,
HUTCHINSON, PITTMAN, BROOKS, MASTRIANO, COSTA, BREWSTER,
STREET, COMITTA, FONTANA, HUGHES AND SCHWANK,
NOVEMBER 5, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, NOVEMBER 5, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing November 14, 2021, as "World Diabetes Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
defines diabetes as a chronic disease that affects one's ability
to process food into energy properly; and
WHEREAS, The inability to process food properly affects an
individual's ability to create enough insulin or fully utilize
the individual's own insulin; and
WHEREAS, Over time, abnormalities with insulin levels can
lead to serious health complications, including heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease, blindness, limb amputations and early
death; and
WHEREAS, There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type
2 and gestational diabetes; and
WHEREAS, Risk factors for diabetes include genetic factors,
high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides,
gestational diabetes during pregnancy, being 45 years of age or
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older, being a member of a high-risk ethnic group, being
overweight and having an inactive lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report
of 2020 released by the CDC, approximately 34.2 million
individuals, or roughly 10.5% of the United States population,
live with the disease; and
WHEREAS, Of this number, approximately 7.3 million, or nearly
21%, are undiagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 13% of Pennsylvanians live with some
form of diabetes; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, the Commonwealth matched overall national
statistics with approximately 10.8% of Pennsylvanians being
diagnosed with diabetes; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, diabetes contributed to over 80,000 deaths
nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Diabetes was one of the five leading causes of
health-related deaths in this Commonwealth in 2017 and the
seventh leading cause of death nationwide in 2017; and
WHEREAS, The rate of deaths related to diabetes has increased
over the past four decades; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for diabetes, but an
individual's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be greatly
reduced through a healthy diet, physical activity and
medication; and
WHEREAS, The majority of avoidable costs associated with
treating diabetes result from inpatient hospitalizations and
emergency room visits, which could be reduced by proactively
managing diabetes-associated conditions in an outpatient
setting; and
WHEREAS, Approximately $327 billion was spent in the United
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States on treating the disease as recently as 2017; and
WHEREAS, Management of diabetes and other chronic conditions
is a major cost driver for programs such as Medicaid and
Medicare; and
WHEREAS, "World Diabetes Day" was first introduced by the
International Diabetes Federation and the World Health
Organization in 1991 to raise awareness of the escalating
incidence of diabetes worldwide; and
WHEREAS, November 14 of each year was chosen to mark "World
Diabetes Day" because it represents the birthday of Frederick
Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the
discovery of insulin in 1921; and
WHEREAS, "World Diabetes Day" became an official United
Nations international observance in 2007 pursuant to the
December 2006 resolution of the General Assembly of the United
Nations recognizing diabetes as "a chronic, debilitating and
costly disease associated with major complications that pose
severe risks for families, countries and the entire world";
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize November 14, 2021, as
"World Diabetes Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage residents in communities
throughout this Commonwealth to recommit to raising awareness of
diabetes and the need for education and services for individuals
afflicted with diabetes.
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