For more than 25 years, the Special Diabetes Program has been a crucial source of funding for research aimed at finding new ways to treat, prevent, and eventually cure diabetes. In light of the program’s impending expiration, Representatives Diana DeGette and Gus Bilirakis have introduced legislation to continue its funding for years to come.
The Special Diabetes Program was first established in 1997 as part of a broader effort by Congress to address the growing burden of diabetes in the United States. The program provides grants to support research into type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), with a particular focus on finding novel treatments and therapies that can improve outcomes for patients.
Over the past two decades, the program has funded countless studies on everything from basic biology to clinical trials of new drugs and devices. Some recent examples include efforts to develop artificial pancreas systems for people with T1D, investigate potential links between obesity and T2D risk factors, and explore how lifestyle modifications like exercise and diet can impact blood sugar levels.
Perhaps most importantly, however, the program has helped bring together researchers from across disciplines – including endocrinology, immunology, genetics, nutrition science,and education – who might not otherwise collaborate on projects related to diabetes. This interdisciplinary approach is critical given how complex this condition is: while it’s clear that blood sugar dysregulation lies at its core,it’s also evident that other factors like inflammation,stress,blood pressure,and cholesterol play important roles as well.
Despite these successes,the future of the Special Diabetes Program remains uncertain.As currently written,the program is set to expire at end September unless Congress acts soon.The stakes are high: some estimates suggestthat up $150 million in annual funding could be lost if lawmakers fail renew it.
To help ensure that doesn’t happen,Diana DeGette,a Democrat representing Colorado’s First Congressional District,and Gus Bilirakis,a Republican representing Florida’s 12th Congressional District,have introduced a bill that would reauthorize the program for five years and provide $3 billion in total funding. The bipartisan effort reflects the widespread recognition among lawmakers of both parties that diabetes is a pressing public health concern.
“Diabetes affects millions of people across our country,including tens thousands in my district alone,” Bilirakis said in a statement. “The Special Diabetes Program has been essential to improving outcomes for these patients,and we must continue to support it if we hope to make further progress toward finding cures.”
Similarly, DeGette emphasized the need for continued investment in research given how much remains unknown about this disease. “We’ve made important strides thanks to the Special Diabetes Program,but there’s still so much more work to be done,” she said.”We can’t afford to let up now.”
Advocacy groups representing people with diabetes have also voiced their support for renewing the program. JDRF,a nonprofit organization focused on T1D,recently launched a campaign urging advocates across the country contact their representatives and ask them sign onto DeGette and Bilirakis’ bill.
“We know firsthand how critical this funding is for advancing research into new treatments,cures,and prevention strategies,”said Aaron Kowalski,JDRF’s chief mission officer,in an email.”Without it,the pace progress will undoubtedly slow down-and that’s simply unacceptable when so many lives are at stake.”
In addition advocates and lawmakers,the Special Diabetes Program has received praise from researchers who say it has played key role driving innovation over last two decades.A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine earlier this year found that between 1998-2017,
the program helped finance over half of all clinical trials related to diabetes drugs or devices.The same study showed that publications related to diabetes research increased dramatically during period when program was first established – suggesting its creation had significant impact on scientific community’s focus priorities.
“Without the Special Diabetes Program,many of these studies simply wouldn’t have been possible,”said Kasia Lipska, an endocrinologist at Yale School of Medicine who co-authored the JAMA study.”It’s a vital source of funding that has helped us move closer to understanding how diabetes works and what we can do to stop it.”
Ultimately,the future of the Special Diabetes Program depends on whether Congress decides act soon. Given its proven track record and bipartisan support,it seems likely that lawmakers will ultimately come together pass legislation reauthorizing it for years to come. But until then,potential $150 million in annual funding hangs in balance-a reality that researchers,advocates,and patients with diabetes alike are all too aware.