“Minorities have a higher incidence of diabetes than most Americans, but sadly they are often the least able to obtain the care they need,” said Representative DeGette.  “Our bill focuses on the unique challenges faced by minority populations by providing them more effective treatment and education.”

Under the bill, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will play a central role in efforts to improve treatment, education, and research for diabetes among minorities.  The NIH will also direct the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee to perform an assessment of the efforts of federal health programs to address diabetes among minority populations.  This committee will then develop a strategic plan to address diabetes among minority populations for all federal health agencies.

"Diabetes is one of the scariest and deadliest diseases -- knowing no boundaries, in terms of race, gender or age.  What we do know is that minority populations are often more affected than not and we decided it was time for a comprehensive approach with regards to research, treatment and most importantly, education.  With education, we can work on prevention," Castle said.

Under the bill, other federal health agencies, including the Indian Health Service, Health Resources and Services Administration and the Institute of Medicine will play increased roles in research, education and other activities regarding diabetes in minority populations.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee stated, “For a community of people who often lack the resources to access or afford health care in the first place, this bill will address another lurking difficulty for minority populations: the lack of education and awareness to live healthily and manage the illness successfully. The provisions included in this measure will help focus research, treatment, and education to learn more about why minority communities disproportionately suffer from diabetes, and how best to alleviate the toll. I have very high hopes that this bill can achieve all of this.”

“Diabetes is a clearly manageable disease and all Americans, regardless of race and financial status, deserve access to prevention treatment and manageable care.  What this legislation will do is help level the playing field,” said Congressman J.D. Hayworth.

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H.R. 5225 – the “Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act of 2006”

Detailed Summary

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans, regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity.  At the same time, racial minorities continue to have a higher incidence of the disease and are often less able to obtain the care they need to manage their diabetes.  The Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act of 2006 is designed to promote research, treatment, and education regarding diabetes in minority populations.  This specific focus will help us address the unique challenges faced by minority populations and provide more effective treatment and education.  The following provides a brief summary of the bill, divided among the health agencies responsible for particular activities detailed in the bill. 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Under the bill, the NIH will play a central role in efforts to improve treatment, education, and research for diabetes among minorities.  Specifically, the NIH will conduct the following activities:

·         Research: The NIH will examine the various factors that lead to diabetes in minority populations, including behavior, environment, and genetics.  The NIH will also examine the predisposition of some minorities with diabetes towards complications with their disease.  Finally, the NIH will research issues associated with diabetic and gestational diabetic pregnancies among minority populations.

·         Treatment: The NIH will conduct and support programs to treat diabetes in minority populations, including recommending and disseminating through the National Center of Minority Health and Health Disparities, the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association for nutrition exercise and diet for diabetes treatment and prevention.

·         Education:  Through the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the NIH will support programs to improve involvement of health care professionals in weight counseling, obesity research, and nutrition, as well as improve minority health professional participation in diabetes-focused research programs.  The NIH will also expand the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program to increase minority representation in diabetes-focused health fields.

The NIH will also expand the responsibilities of the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee to perform an assessment of the activities of all current federal health programs to address diabetes among minority populations.  The Committee will then develop a strategic plan to address diabetes among minority populations for all federal health agencies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

                Under the bill, the CDC will also play a critical role in improving diabetes prevention, education, and health promotion among minority populations.  Specifically, the CDC will conduct the following activities.

·         Research: The CDC will expand a number of current programs to improve understanding of diabetes within minority populations.  The National Diabetes Laboratory will be expanded for translational research and the identification of genetic and immunological risk factors associated with diabetes.  The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey will be enhanced to examine eating habits among minority populations.  The survey will be further expanded to include over-sampling of Asian American and Pacific Islanders to better determine the prevalence of diabetes in these populations.  Finally, the bill requires the Division of Diabetes Translation to conduct research to determine how to provide better diabetes care to minority populations and carry-out culturally appropriate community-based interventions.

·         Education: The CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation will conduct and support programs to educate the public on the causes of effects of diabetes in minority populations.  Activities will include funding diabetes-focused education classes or training programs on cultural sensitivity, and carrying-out public awareness campaigns to encourage physical activity.

·         Health Promotion: The CDC will carry out culturally appropriate diabetes health promotion and prevention programs for minority populations.  Activities will include expanding the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, funding programs to adapt community planning tools within minority populations, and funding the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010) grants to develop and evaluate diabetes prevention and control. 

Additional Programs

                Other federal health agencies will also play important roles in research, education and other activities regarding diabetes in minority populations.

·         Indian Health Service (IHS): The IHS will conduct research on ethnic and culturally appropriate diabetes treatment, care, prevention, and services by health care professionals for the American Indian population.

·         Health and Human Services (HHS): HHS will carry out education and awareness programs designed to increase participation of minority populations in clinical trials.

·         Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):  HRSA will provide additional funding for programs designed to expand career opportunities within minority populations focused on diabetes treatment and care.  HRSA will also use funds to place health care providers in areas disproportionately affected by diabetes.  Finally, HRSA will conduct a study to determine whether minority children with diabetes have better or worse outcomes than non-minority children.