Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) in 1997 for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Natives. American Indian and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the United States. The SDPI supported programs have resulted in the mean blood sugar level (A1C) decreasing from 9.0% in 1996 to 7.85% in 2006, which translates to a 40% reduction in diabetes-related complications. The SDPI is currently funded at $150 million per year thru FY 2011.
Senate Bill S.3058 and H.R. 3668 were introduced to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians (SDPI), which funding is set to expire September 2011. Today, the SDPI supports nearly 400 Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian health programs in 35 states. The bills would reauthorize SDPI for additional five years and appropriate $200 million per year.
Click here to access the NIHB Press Release about the Senate Bill.
Click here to access a copy of S.3058.
Click here to access a copy of H.R. 3668.
ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Senators and Representatives
Ask them to become a cosponsor of this important legislation. During this difficult budget climate, securing additional funding for SDPI is going to be extremely difficult so it's important for your representatives to hear from you so they know how important SDPI is to Indian Country.
HOW TO DO IT: