LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Across the U.S., 34 million people have diabetes, and more than over 1.2 million of them are living in Kentucky and Indiana.
According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated one in three kids born after 2000 will develop diabetes, a disease with no cure. And federal funding for research and treatments could come to a halt Sept. 30.
Stacey Cauley's life changed forever 10 years ago when a pancreas surgery led her to become a Type 1 diabetic.
"My parents and I had a check-in every few hours," she said. We would call or text each other, make sure everything was OK. And one day, I just didn't answer the phone. My parents came out and found me, and I had been out for about three hours."
Cauley said she was hypothermic, and all of her organs had started to shut down when her parents found her. Now, the 42-year-old makes sure her bag of essentials is always close by. But keeping enough on hand is a costly challenge.
"It's thousands of dollars," she said. "With insurance, they usually only accept one type of thing. I had to fight to get all three of these types of things. My doctor had to write a letter saying 'She needs all three.' Because sometimes it takes multiple rounds, and we need to try something different."
According to the ADA, direct diabetes medical expenses cost $3.6 billion in Kentucky alone in 2017. The same report indicated those with diabetes have medical expenses 2.3 times higher than someone without diabetes.
That's why Cauley is among those advocating for Special Diabetes Program Funding to be renewed. Currently, two bills are making their way through the House and Senate. S. 1855, the Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023, and H.R. 2547, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2023, would both allocate millions in federal funding toward diabetes research and treatment over the next few years.
Under the Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023, $170 million would be allocated in both 2024 and 2025. An additional $42.8 million would be allocated for Oct. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025 for a total of over $200 million over the next two years.
The Special Diabetes Program for Indians Reauthorization Act of 2023 calls for $150 million in each fiscal year from 2024-28.
If approved, the combined bills would allocate over $982 million toward diabetes research and funding over the next four years.
The Special Diabetes Program was started in 1988 with about $30 million. Since then, it has grown to receive about $150 million in annual funding with the most recent funds set to expire at the end of this month.
It's still unclear when the two new pieces of legislation will be brought up for a vote but some Kentucky lawmakers are making their stances clear.
Senator Mitch McConnell's office released the following statement to WDRB News in support of renewed funding:
"Senator McConnell has previously supported federal funding for medical research, including for Type 1 Diabetes research, for decades in the Senate and continues to be supportive of the Special Diabetes Program. This legislation is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor after passing the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. As the Majority Leader, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) determines the legislative schedule for what bills are debated and voted on, and when."
Congressman Morgan McGarvey also vocalized his support in a statement to WDRB News writing, "I fully support the Special Diabetes Program so we can continue funding research on the prevention, treatment, and hopefully cure for Type 1 diabetes. Renewal of the SDP is critical to supporting people who live with Type 1 diabetes — this funding improves lives and reduces health care costs. Allowing the SDP to expire at the end of this month would be detrimental to Louisvillians who rely on this life-saving research. I’ve joined my Democratic colleagues in urging House Leadership to renew SDP funding, and will continue working in Congress to keep this critical program funded for years to come.”
"I don't think people realize just how big of a deal it is," Cauley said. "Come spend a day in my shoes. I'll show you the funding is worth it."
Related Stories:
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
