Rep. Engel, Dr. Burgess Applaud Recommendations for Gestational Diabetes Screenings

Press Release

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX-26) applauded the findings of the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report issued on Tuesday regarding screening of pregnant woman for gestational diabetes. First and foremost among the recommendations regarding essential women's preventative health services is screening for all pregnant women and a focus for at-risk pregnant women to be screened for Gestational Diabetes. Rep. Engel and Dr. Burgess recently introduced the Gestational Diabetes Act of 2011 (GEDI), (H.R. 2194) legislation designed to lower the incidence of gestational diabetes and prevent affected women and their children from later developing Type 2 diabetes. The bill passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate.

"Over the last 15 years, the number of Americans with diabetes has doubled to more than 20 million, with approximately 135,000 American women diagnosed with gestational diabetes annually. It can occur in women who have never had diabetes, but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. While the condition usually goes away after pregnancy, it could have significant future impacts on both mother and child, including an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. We need to be more proactive in detecting, treating and slowing the incidents of gestational diabetes and I commend the IOM for their recommendations, and urge the Secretary of Health and Human Services to incorporate gestational diabetes screening for all expectant mothers into the essential preventative services covered under the Affordable Care Act. " said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health, and primary author of the legislation. "The statistics surrounding diabetes are staggering, but we must always remember there is a human face behind every number, with far too many of them being children."

"While there may not be uniform agreement on all of the IOM's findings, or how they may be used in the implementation of the PPACA, gestational diabetes is a critical public health issue that I have been talking about for years. I am glad that the IOM has recognized the importance of this condition and recommends we do more to ensure woman receive this care," said Dr. Burgess who is the Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health and Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus. "During my 25-year medical practice as an obstetrician I saw far too many expectant mothers and newborn babies affected by gestational diabetes. This is a preventable disease, and patients will benefit from additional knowledge. The statistics speak for themselves -- mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, and their children are at an increased risk not only for diabetes but other pre-natal complications as well. As I have said before and the IOM agrees, we must improve detection to improve more effective preventative measures that will reduce clinical costs for the patients as well as the states."

The recommended screening period for gestational diabetes is during weeks 24-28 of a pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine recommends this time period for screening, but also at the first prenatal visit for women who are deemed at risk. 24 to 28 weeks of gestation is when most gestational diabetes cases are diagnosed, and the majority of cases go away postnatal. However, if untreated, it could have significant impacts on the mother and her child giving them higher risks of developing Type 2 diabetes among other potential complications.

The legislation sponsored by Rep. Engel and Dr. Burgess would:

*Develop a multi-site gestational diabetes research project within the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) diabetes program to enhance surveillance and public health research on gestational diabetes.

*Provide demonstration grants to focus on reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes.

*Expand basic, clinical and public health research investigating gestational diabetes and current treatments and therapies available.

"The recommendation from the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Preventive Services for Women that all pregnant women should be screened for gestational diabetes is an important step forward in improving the health and well-being of women and children and reducing the burden of gestational diabetes," said Sue Kirkman, MD, Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs & Community Information, American Diabetes Association. "Congressman Engel and Dr. Burgess have long understood the importance of gestational diabetes screening in women and today's recommendation from the IOM committee underscores the importance of the Gestational Diabetes Act of 2011."

The Congressmen both believe that the ongoing fight against diabetes is a bipartisan battle and one that needs constant attention. By continuing to develop ways to identify, treat and prevent, the eventual goal of finding a cure becomes obtainable. The fight against gestational diabetes cannot be eased because the disease never rests.

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