Recognizing National Diabetes Month

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge National Diabetes Month.

As chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, I have long been focused on how diabetes disproportionately affects Black Americans.

From lack of investment to a racist healthcare culture, Black Americans face significant obstacles to treating and preventing diabetes.

Black Americans undeniably face unique and significant stressors because of racial discrimination. Research shows a clear link between social stress and health outcomes, emphasizing we must not only address the physical aspects of diabetes but also its underlying social determinants.

We can address risk factors from diabetes from the earliest moments. Exposures before birth, such as undernutrition, maternal stress, and maternal obesity, can substantially increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Our efforts can continue outside of the traditional medical system by increasing access to healthy food, reducing food insecurity, and expanding opportunities for nutrition therapy and counseling. We can reduce the risk of diabetes without first turning to more costly and time-consuming treatments.

Let me give a special shout-out to Shontel Brown for bringing CBC members together to highlight this issue. THE MATH

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source