Senate Resolution No. 2259

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 22, 2022, as Diabetes Alert Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Tuesday, March 22, 2022,
as Diabetes Alert Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Diabetes Alert Day; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the body's
inability to produce any or enough insulin causes elevated levels of
glucose in the blood; nearly 3.3 million children and adults in the
United States have diabetes, with 1.4 million Americans diagnosed each
year; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Health describes the
prevalence of diabetes as "arguably our biggest looming health
challenge"; the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in New York State has
increased steadily in the past two decades, from 4.6 % in 1996 to over
10% in 2013; and

WHEREAS, In December of 2012, the Department of Health reported that
diabetes had reached epidemic proportions in New York State; the overall
annual cost of diabetes in New York, attributable to both direct medical
costs and lost productivity, is $12 billion for all payers, including
Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Health recorded 4,035
diabetes deaths in New York in 2013, however, the Centers for Disease
Control indicates that diabetes generally may be under-reported as a
cause of death because, nationwide, only about 35 to 40 percent of
people with diabetes who died from 2000 through 2002 had diabetes listed
anywhere on the death certificate; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes is the primary cause of death for 83,564 Americans
each year, and contributes to the death of 234,051 Americans annually;
and

WHEREAS, The original patent for insulin was sold in 1923 by the
patent holders for just $1 each; today, the high cost of insulin causes
one in four patients to ration their insulin; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, recognizes the lives we have lost from the rationing of
insulin and the need there is to ensure every person living with
diabetes can afford this lifesaving and life sustaining medication; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, state and national levels to improve health and healthcare
outcomes for those affected by diabetes; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 22, 2022, as
Diabetes Alert Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.