Senators Collins And Clinton Announce Reintroduction Of Legislation To Help Fight Growing Rates Of Diabetes Striking Pregnant Women Across Nation

Press Release

SENATORS COLLINS AND CLINTON ANNOUNCE REINTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO HELP FIGHT GROWING RATES OF DIABETES STRIKING PREGNANT WOMEN ACROSS NATION

Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) along with Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Vito Fossella (R-NY) have reintroduced companion legislation in both chambers of Congress to combat growing rates of diabetes striking pregnant women across the nation. The Gestational Diabetes (GEDI) Act is aimed at lowering the incidence of gestational diabetes, which puts women at increased risk for complications during childbirth and puts their children at increased risk for developing debilitating Type 2 diabetes as adolescents or adults.


"Our legislation will help to stem the growing epidemic of gestational diabetes in our country, which puts the health of both mother and child at risk," said Senator Collins. "The evidence is clear that there is a direct link between gestational diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The GEDI Act will help to identify new treatments and interventions that will reduce the incidence of the disorder and the subsequent risk of mother and child developing Type 2 diabetes in the future."

"Gestational diabetes affects women and children across New York State. In New York City alone, the disorder has risen by a staggering 50 percent in the last decade. This should be a call to action. The tragic fact is that gestational diabetes is preventable, but too many women unknowingly put themselves and their children at risk. We need to raise awareness of this condition and do everything we can to turn these alarming statistics around," said Senator Clinton.

Gestational diabetes is a disorder that affects between four to eight percent of pregnant women in the United States and the numbers are growing. More women than ever are entering pregnancy overweight, which can trigger gestational diabetes and threaten the health of both the mother and child. Genetics, ethnicity, and maternal age are other risk factors for the disease.

New therapies and interventions to detect, treat, and slow the incidence of this disorder need to be identified. The GEDI Act will support increased understanding of the factors that contribute to this condition and help mothers who develop gestational diabetes reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The GEDI Act will create a Research Advisory Committee headed by the CDC to monitor gestational diabetes and obesity during pregnancy to develop methods to prevent onset of Type 2 diabetes. Also, the Act will allocate funding through demonstration grants for projects to assist health care providers and communities in finding ways to reach out to women so they better understand how their health during pregnancy will impact their own as well as their child's health. The bill will also expand on current research by the NIH and the CDC to help lower the incidences of gestational diabetes.

The GEDI Act is supported by the following organizations: American Diabetes Association, National Research Center for Women & Families, Society for Women's Health Research, International Community Health Services, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations.

The GEDI Act was first introduced in the 109th Congress by Senators Collins and Clinton. The companion bill in the House of Representatives was also introduced during the 109th Congress by Representatives Engel and Fossella.

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