National Diabetes Month, 2001

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7507 of November 29, 2001

National Diabetes Month, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During the past century, we have made significant
progress in our fight against disease. Through public
health campaigns and aggressive research, we have
eliminated polio in the United States, reduced the harm
of influenza outbreaks, and developed revolutionary new
medications that provide relief and healing from many
chronic and acute illnesses. However, effective
treatments and cures to numerous other illnesses remain
elusive and demand our continued attention and
resources. One of the most prevalent and difficult of
these is diabetes, which currently afflicts more than
16 million Americans.

Diabetes can cause blindness, renal disease, severe
nerve damage, heart disease, strokes, and even death.
This year approximately 800,000 men, women, and
children in the United States will develop diabetes,
and health officials estimate that it will be a
contributing factor in almost 200,000 deaths. The total
economic cost for providing medical treatment for
diabetes patients and for disability and deaths related
to the disease is approximately $100 billion a year.
More troubling are statistics indicating that more than
5 million Americans are unaware of their diabetic
condition, seriously jeopardizing their long-term
health and well-being. An additional 10 million
citizens are at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes
due largely to physical inactivity, obesity, and poor
diet.

Recent scientific findings demonstrate that modest,
consistent exercise and a healthy diet can curtail the
risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals by nearly 60
percent. This information provides great hope in our
efforts to reduce the incidence of diabetes and creates
a renewed sense of urgency to ensure that all Americans
are aware of practical steps that can be taken to
reduce their risk for diabetes.

My Administration is strongly committed to fighting
diabetes both by working in cooperation with dedicated
staff and volunteers of private organizations to
develop strong public education programs and by
increased Federal funding for medical research. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) have established
the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) to help
familiarize Americans with the risks of diabetes and
what can be done to minimize its complications. The
NDEP will also offer practical information about
preventing the cardiovascular complications of diabetes
through the campaign, ``Be Smart About Your Heart: The
ABCs of Diabetes.'' Medical research is providing
exciting advances in our prevention and treatment
strategies for diabetes, and my fiscal year 2002 budget
reflects a significant increase in funding to continue
the valuable diabetes research programs at the NIH.

I am confident that our Nation's health care
professionals, nurses, scientists, educators, and
volunteers will continue to provide quality care to
those who currently suffer from diabetes, and, through
their work, we will one day find a cure for this
terrible disease. On the observance of National
Diabetes Month, we honor those who are working
diligently to advance our knowledge and understanding
of diabetes. We also recognize the value of educating
ourselves about health risks and the importance of
healthy lifestyle habits.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim November 2001 as National
Diabetes Month. I call on all Americans to increase
their awareness of the risk factors and symptoms
related to diabetes and to observe this month with
appropriate activities and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B