Senate Bill S6590

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6590

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to Type 1 diabetes
testing of children

 PURPOSE :

This bill will require type 1 diabetes testing of children receiving
health services when they present with two or more symptoms.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends the public health law by adding a new section 2500-1
which provides for the testing of type I diabetes in children.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Most people are familiar with type 2 diabetes, but type 1 diabetes,
formerly known as juvenile diabetes, is far less common.  Type I
diabetes (T1D) accounts for 5% of diabetes cases in the United States.
The lack of awareness of type I diabetes, compounded with the fact
that the signs and symptoms are often mistaken for the flu or strep
              

throat leads too often to missed diagnoses. Untreated, T1D causes
serious complications or death.

According to the CDC, while there has been a decline in diabetes
deaths rates among children in the past 30 years, there has also been
an increase in the incidence of T1D for U.S. children. Moreover, death
rates have increased slightly in children between the ages of 10 and
19. These tragic deaths illustrate how dangerous undiagnosed TID can
be. The CDC's study demonstrates the need for improved diagnosis. As
the condition can escalate quickly, it is imminent that T1D be
diagnosed and treatment begin immediately. It is paramount to know the
warning signs of the disease, including: increased thirst, Frequent
urination, Extreme hunger, Unintended weight loss, fatigue and
weakness, irritability and other mood changes, and blurred vision.

With timely diagnosis and proper care, a patient can live a normal
life. With untimely diagnosis, a patient may lose his life. When
children go to the doctor, a simple finger prick and one drop of blood
is all that is needed to test for TID, rather than dismissing it as
flu or strep. This legislation seeks to ensure timely diagnosis. By
requiring the testing of any child who presents with two or more
symptoms of T1D, this legislation will increase awareness for TID and
decrease childhood diabetes mortality rates.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
180 days after becoming law.