South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014

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Bill 1090


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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF DIABETES AND TO PROCLAIM THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014, AS "DIABETES AWARENESS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA, COINCIDING WITH SOUTH CAROLINA'S "DIABETES UNDER THE DOME DAY" SPONSORED BY THE DIABETES INITIATIVE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina intends to designate and sponsor one day in March annually as South Carolina's "Diabetes Under the Dome Day"; and

Whereas, South Carolina is ranked seventh highest for the prevalence of diabetes in the United States; and

Whereas, nearly twenty-six million patients are affected by diabetes, one of the leading killers of Americans, and the diabetes epidemic is quickly escalating; and

Whereas, it is estimated that another seventy-nine million Americans have prediabetes and can reduce their risks of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and increasing physical activity; and

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of diabetes among adults in the United States grew by forty-five percent over the past twenty years, and today one in ten American adults has diabetes; and

Whereas, diabetes management involves the entire health care team, which includes the health care provider, such as a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant; pharmacist; nurse; dietitian; and others; and

Whereas, diabetes management includes healthy eating, being physically active, healthy coping and stress management, medication management along with self-monitored blood glucose levels, as well as means to prevent complications, increase productivity, and enhance quality of life; and

Whereas, diabetes is a challenging disease that affects the entire family in many ways; therefore, family support is very important; and

Whereas, people who are obese or overweight need to strive for their recommended body weight range, which will improve their overall diabetes management, blood pressure control, lipid management, and related outcomes; and

Whereas, comprehensive medication management (CMM) is an essential component of coordinated care for the diabetic patient, which ensures each patient's medications are individually assessed to determine that the patient is willing and able to take the medication as prescribed and that the medication is appropriate, is effective for the medical condition, and is safe in regard to the patient's comorbidities and in relation to other medication the patient is taking; and

Whereas, CMM involves regular interaction between the patient and the health care provider to ensure that as a team they are meeting their clinical goals of therapy, with the prescriber having ultimate decision-making authority for any changes made to the patient's medication or treatment regimen; and

Whereas, policymakers and the public should recognize that medications and improved self-management by the person with diabetes are important prevention and treatment tools for patients and their providers; and

Whereas, South Carolina policymakers should encourage the use of CMM for high-risk patients, such as Medicaid patients who have diabetes; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate encourages all South Carolinians to reduce their risks of developing diabetes and promotes the "American Diabetes Association (ADA) Alert Day," which serves as a wake-up call and asks all Americans to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate supports raising awareness about the prevention, education, treatment, and undertreatment of diabetes, including the benefits of CMM, diabetes self-management education, and improved quality of care for persons at risk for and with diabetes. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize the devastating effects of diabetes and proclaim Thursday, March 20, 2014, as "Diabetes Awareness Day" in South Carolina, coinciding with South Carolina's "Diabetes Under the Dome Day" sponsored by the Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina.

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This web page was last updated on March 6, 2014 at 12:38 PM