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TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF DIABETES AND TO PROCLAIM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015, AS "DIABETES AWARENESS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA, COINCIDING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA'S "DIABETES UNDER THE DOME DAY," SPONSORED BY THE DIABETES INITIATIVE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION.
Whereas, the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina and the American Diabetes Association intend to designate and sponsor one day in March annually as South Carolina's "Diabetes Under the Dome Day"; and
Whereas, South Carolina is ranked tenth highest for the prevalence of diabetes in the United States; and
Whereas, over twenty-nine million patients are affected by diabetes, one of the leading killers of Americans, and the diabetes epidemic is quickly escalating; and
Whereas, it is estimated that another eighty-six million Americans have prediabetes and can reduce their risks of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and increasing physical activity; and
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of diabetes among adults in the United States has grown by forty-five percent over the past twenty years, and today one in ten American adults has diabetes; and
Whereas, diabetes management involves the entire health care team, which includes the health care provider, such as a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant; pharmacist; nurse; dietitian; and others; and
Whereas, diabetes management includes healthy eating, being physically active, healthy coping and stress management, medication management along with self-monitored blood glucose levels, as well as means to prevent complications, increase productivity, and enhance quality of life; and
Whereas, diabetes is a challenging disease that affects the entire family in many ways; therefore, family support is very important; and
Whereas, people who are obese or overweight need to strive for their recommended body-weight range, which will improve their overall diabetes management, blood-pressure control, lipid management, and related outcomes; and
Whereas, comprehensive medication management (CMM) is an essential component of coordinated care for the diabetic patient, which ensures each patient's medications are individually assessed to determine that the patient is willing and able to take the medication as prescribed and that the medication is appropriate, effective for the medical condition, and safe in regard to the patient's comorbidities and in relation to other medications the patient is taking; and
Whereas, CMM involves regular interaction between the patient and the health care provider to ensure that as a team they are meeting their clinical goals of therapy, with the prescriber having ultimate decision-making authority for any changes made to the patient's medication or treatment regimen; and
Whereas, policymakers and the public should recognize that medications and improved self-management by the person with diabetes are important prevention and treatment tools for patients and their providers; and
Whereas, South Carolina policymakers should encourage the use of CMM for high-risk patients, such as Medicaid patients who have diabetes; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate encourages all South Carolinians to reduce their risks of developing diabetes and promotes the "American Diabetes Association (ADA) Alert Day," which serves as a wake-up call and asks all Americans to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate supports awareness about the prevention, education, treatment, and undertreatment of diabetes, including the benefits of CMM, diabetes self-management education, and improved quality of care for persons at risk for diabetes, as well as those presently living with diabetes. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize the devastating effects of diabetes and proclaim Wednesday, March 25, 2015, as "Diabetes Awareness Day" in South Carolina, coinciding with South Carolina's "Diabetes Under the Dome Day," sponsored by the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina and the American Diabetes Association.
This web page was last updated on March 19, 2015 at 11:26 AM