WHEREAS, Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects an estimated 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3 percent of the population, on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 3.8 million people in California are living with diabetes, and it is estimated that over one million Californians are undiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes costs an estimated $37.1 billion in California each year; and

WHEREAS, Type I diabetes accounts for $14.9 billion in health care costs in the United States each year; and

WHEREAS, Type I diabetes, previously called juvenile-onset diabetes, occurs when the body does not produce insulin, a hormone that is necessary to convert sugar, or glucose, into energy; and

WHEREAS, Type I diabetes is the third most common autoimmune disease found among children; and

WHEREAS, Between 2001 and 2009 there was a 21-percent increase in the prevalence of type I diabetes in people under 20 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Only 5 percent of diabetics have type I diabetes, and it is typically diagnosed in children and young adults; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of type I diabetes can help prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal condition that develops from high blood glucose levels; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, among hospital discharges of children and young people 0 to 17 years of age, about 74 percent had diabetes as the first-listed diagnosis, and of these patients, 64 percent of the diagnoses were for diabetic ketoacidosis; and

WHEREAS, Education concerning type I diabetes is critical to raising awareness and diagnosing and treating this condition effectively; and

WHEREAS, With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, young children and adolescents can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly encourages all health care practitioners with children under their care to discuss the warning signs and symptoms of type I diabetes with the parents or guardians of each child at least once annually at well-child care visits from birth to 5 years of age; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

HR 43

Assembly Floor

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