November 2023: Diabetes Awareness Month

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 37.3 million adults and children in the United States have diabetes and an estimated 96 million adults have prediabetes; and,

WHEREAS, an estimated 850,000 Michigan adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, and over 3 million adults across the state are estimated to have prediabetes; and,

WHEREAS, there are significant disparities in diabetes prevalence in Michigan for non-Hispanic Black adults (14.6%), non-Hispanic American Indian adults (12.4%), persons with a disability (14.7%), and persons living in rural areas (10.8%) as compared with 8.8% for non-Hispanic whites; and,

WHEREAS, diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. and Michigan; and,

WHEREAS, diabetes poses a severe economic burden in Michigan. People with diagnosed diabetes have medical expenditures about 2.3 times higher than people without diabetes; and,

WHEREAS, uncontrolled diabetes puts people at risk for serious complications including cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease and dialysis, and nerve damage and amputation; and,

WHEREAS, research shows that people at high risk for diabetes can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes by staying at a healthy weight, eating well, and being active; and,

WHEREAS, the Diabetes Prevention Program is available as a covered benefit at no charge for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries; and,

WHEREAS, learning how to self-manage this condition through diabetes self-management education is a cornerstone of treatment; and,

WHEREAS, best practice guidelines to treat diabetes include but are not limited to insulin, oral medication, diet, physical activity, and daily self-management routines; and,

WHEREAS, historic actions championed by President Biden through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are saving millions of seniors money by capping the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare patients; and,

WHEREAS, in October 2022, I signed an executive directive tasking departments with determining how generic, state-manufactured insulin can be delivered at lower costs to Michiganders; and,

WHEREAS, the Diabetes Partners in Action Coalition and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, along with their partner organizations, have come together to increase awareness and focus efforts to prevent and/or decrease the adverse effects of diabetes in the state of Michigan;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as Diabetes Awareness Month in Michigan.