1. American Diabetes Association:
Advocating to Stop Diabetes
LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH
National Director, Public Policy & Strategic Alliances

2. Already at EPIDEMIC proportions:
• 25.8 million with diabetes
• 79 million with prediabetes
And, increasing at an alarming rate:
• Now: 11.3% of U.S. adults have diabetes.
• By 2050: 1 in 3 American adults

3. ALL at increased RISK FOR DEATH, AND LIFE-LIMITING
DISABILITIES.
•Leading cause of kidney failure,
non-traumatic lower limb amputations, and
new cases of blindness among adults
•Major cause of heart disease & stroke.
•7th leading cause of death

4. Diabetes is costly.
Serious
Economic Diabetes health COSTS ARE A BIG BURDEN –
Burden for all of us:
•Those with diabetes more than 2X the health care
costs of those without diabetes.
•For children the cost is 6X higher
•1 in 10 health care dollars spent treating
diabetes.
•1 in 3 Medicare dollars spent on people with
diabetes.

5. MISSION:
To Prevent and Cure Diabetes
and Improve the Lives
of All People Affected by Diabetes
Advocacy goals:
• Increase federal and state funding for
diabetes prevention, treatment and
research
• Prevent diabetes
• Eliminate discrimination against people
with diabetes
• Improve the availability of accessible,
adequate and affordable health care

6. Health Reform: What it means for people with
Diabetes
• Ends discrimination
• People with diabetes can't use up
their insurance or have it taken
away when they need it most
• Limits on out-of-pocket costs for
all and an array of help for low
and moderate income people with
diabetes
• New focus on primary prevention

7. Health Reform
• Coverage for kids and
young adults
• Exchanges
• Essential Health
Benefits
• Prevention

8. Health Care Reform: Getting the Word Out

9. Health Care Reform: Defense
• Congress
• States
• Courts

10. Questions
www.diabetes.org/advocate
1-800- DIABETES
Center for Information and Community Support