Diabetes is a disease in which a person has high blood sugar either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination and increased thirst and hunger. Long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure and retinal damage. There are three main types of diabetes, all which are treatable with insulin. Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, results from the body's failure to produce insulin and requires a person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump. Type 2, or adult-onset diabetes, results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly. Type 3, gestational diabetes, occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. This may precede development of type 2 diabetes. About 34 million people, or about 10% of all Americans, have diabetes, not counting at least 7 million people who are undiagnosed and another 80 million people who have pre-diabetes. Adequate treatment of this disease is important, as is not smoking and maintaining control of blood pressure and body weight.

Pending Legislation: H.R.2550 - Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Diana DeGette (CO)
Status: House Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce)
Chairperson: Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY)