National Diabetes Month, 2013

Proclamation 9051 of October 31, 2013

National Diabetes Month, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

With more than 25 million Americans living with a
diabetes diagnosis, and many more going undiagnosed,
diabetes affects people across our country and remains
a pressing national health concern. During National
Diabetes Month, we renew our dedication to combating
this chronic, life-threatening illness by standing with
those living with diabetes, honoring the professionals
and advocates engaged in fighting diabetes, and working
to raise awareness about prevention and treatment.

Diabetes can lead to serious complications, including
heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.
Type 1 diabetes, often diagnosed in children, limits
insulin production and its causes are not well defined.
Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for more than 90
percent of diabetes cases, has been linked to older age
and family history, although it is increasingly being
diagnosed in younger Americans and is associated with
obesity and inactivity. The risk is particularly high
among African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American
Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders. I encourage all Americans to talk to their
health care provider about steps they can take to
prevent or manage this disease.

With diabetes ranking among the leading causes of death
in the United States, my Administration is committed to
supporting Americans living with diabetes, investing in
promising scientific research, advancing work toward
improved treatment and care, and bolstering prevention
efforts. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, beginning
in 2014, no American with diabetes can be denied health
insurance based on their diagnosis, and in most plans,
Americans at increased risk can access diabetes
screenings at no cost to them. The National Diabetes
Prevention Program engages private and public partners
to help people with prediabetes adopt lifestyles that
can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes, and the National
Diabetes Education Program focuses on delaying and
preventing disease onset while also working to improve
outcomes for those living with the disease.

With our next generation in mind, First Lady Michelle
Obama's Let's Move! initiative has taken on the
staggering rise in childhood obesity our Nation has
seen over the past three decades, and Let's Move! is
empowering families and communities to put children on
a path to healthier futures. Obese children face an
increased risk of adult obesity and all the health
risks that come with it, including Type 2 diabetes. By
connecting children with healthy, affordable food
options and the opportunity to be active in their
communities, Let's Move! is helping our sons and
daughters reach a healthier, more promising tomorrow.

This month, as we remember those we have lost to
diabetes and support those living with the illness, let
us look to a day with fewer cases of diabetes, a firmer
understanding of the disease, and better outcomes for
all those affected. By continuing the important
research, outreach, and care delivery we have already
begun, we know we can get there.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 2013

as National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans,
school systems, government agencies, nonprofit
organizations, health care providers, research
institutions, and other interested groups to join in
activities that raise diabetes awareness and help
prevent, treat, and manage the disease.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.