WASHINGTON, D.C.–If you are one of the 137,000 Hoosiers with Type I diabetes, you’ve seen the advances in technology over the years that helps measure blood sugar and administer insulin. Some of those advances were because Congress supports juvenile diabetes research with the Special Diabetes Program.
That program, SPD, expires this month. Jenny Raque, who represent parts of Indiana for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, says you can ask Congress to renew the SPD.
“Type I diabetes is when your body is no longer able to produce insulin,” she said. “It’s actually an auto-immune disease. It’s usually diagnosed during childhood, but it can develop at any age.”
She said the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has helped channel billions of dollars into research, and that includes the $150 million per year from the federal government through the SPD.
“My daughter first when she was diagnosed nine years ago started on shots and then she advanced to the insulin pump,” said Raque. “It’s interesting I’ve had my daughter and my father had Type I for 55 years. So, honestly I’ve been able to watch the advances since the SDP has been in play.”
She credits many of the technological advances in the last 20 years to the research backed by the SDP.
“The SDP has always been something that’s a bipartisan priority to ensure that research can deliver results toward the better treatments, therapies and ultimately the cure.”
Raque thanks senators Todd Young and Mike Braun. She said they have supported Hoosiers with Type I diabetes.
PHOTO: Niklas Hallen/Getty Images
