Reps. Lisa Brown, Segal, Ball, Barnett, Booher, Terry Brown, Caul, Constan, Cushingberry, Dean, Durhal, Geiss, Gonzales, Green, Hansen, Haugh, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Kandrevas, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Lipton, Liss, Lori, Lund, Marleau, Mayes, Nathan, Neumann, Polidori, Proos, Roberts, Scripps, Sheltrown, Slavens, Slezak, Smith, Spade, Stanley, Switalski, Tlaib, Tyler, Warren, Huckleberry and Walsh offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 180.

A resolution recognizing November 14, 2009 as World Diabetes Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Diabetes is a chronic disease for which there is currently no known cure. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; and

Whereas, Individuals with type 1 diabetes cannot produce any of their own insulin oramylin, which are the hormones needed to help regulate sugar and food stores in the body; and

Whereas, Individuals with type 2, or adult on-set diabetes, cannot produce enough of their own insulin or amylin and often do not exhibit symptoms in the early stages of the disease; and

Whereas, The serious long-term complications of high blood sugar levels may include blindness, lower-extremity amputation, heart disease, kidney failure, and premature death; and

Whereas, In recent years, the number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes has increased 41 percent; and

Whereas, Nine out of 10 individuals who are newly diagnosed with adult on-set diabetes also suffer from obesity; and

Whereas, America is facing a diabetes epidemic. An estimated 20.8 million Americans are living with the disease nationwide; and

Whereas, Diabetes is a leading health problem in Michigan with an estimated 593,200 adults in Michigan currently living with the disease; and

Whereas, Michigan’s prevalence rate exceeds the national prevalence rate of 7 percent of the population; and

Whereas, The keys to reducing the incidence of, and complications associated with, diabetes are education, early detection, control, and proper treatment; and

Whereas, The earlier a person is diagnosed with diabetes and receives treatment, the better the person’s chances are for avoiding diabetes complications; and

Whereas, The first line of treatment recommended by all treatment standards is diet and exercise. A healthy diet and the loss of excess weight can have a positive impact on the body’s ability to fight off disease; and

Whereas, It has been shown that modest weight loss may help to lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and improve the levels of fats in the bloodstream, which is beneficial to the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases; and

Whereas, Traditionally those at highest risk include older citizens who have a family history of the disease and who are overweight. However, in recent years there has been an alarming increase in the growing number of young people who are being diagnosed with diabetes, which is attributed to lifestyle and excessive body mass; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize November 14, 2009 as World Diabetes Day in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That to reduce the rate of diabetes and its complications among high-risk populations, individuals are encouraged to seek early screening and early treatment. Health care providers are encouraged to improve care for the control of diabetes and the treatment of major complications; and be it further

Resolved, That health care providers are encouraged to adopt generally recognized clinical practice guidelines such as the American Diabetes Association goals, recommendations, and standards that identify the reduction of body mass index (BMI), cardiovascular risk issues, and glycemic control as key factors to managing diabetes; and be it further

Resolved, That healthcare providers are encouraged, as they detect and treat the emerging diabetes epidemic, to engage in an aggressive program with their patients, including dietary counseling and exercise, measurements of body weight, and other associated risk factors; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Nurses Association, and the Michigan Primary Care Association.