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Maria Menounos, Ambassador for the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Diabetes Aware program with Novo Nordisk, addresses the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. Photo by Gediyon Kifle.
My experience here on Capitol Hill has been positive, overall, but overwhelming for sure. I've never had to do anything like this. Politics is an altogether different beast than reporting so I was quite nervous but excited to be part of the day. It was encouraging to see so many people invested in the issue of Diabetes, particularly for someone who has been affected by the disease firsthand as I have been with my Dad being Type 1.
There were several things I needed to accomplish with regards to the disease during my trip to Washington and through my meetings on Capitol Hill. We need to change the way people think and act when it comes to diabetes. We need to take this disease seriously, get tested and be on the lookout for symptoms. Physicians need to be as educated as possible about the disease and the newest methods and techniques to treat and better manage it. And from a government standpoint, we need to shift from just treating diabetes to preventing it. The good news is that we weren't out there asking for more money. We already spend $80 billion dollars annually on treatment for diabetes; we just need to spend more of those dollars on prevention. If we just really enhance the interdepartmental coordination we can apply our resources better and lower the risks, complications and even occurrences. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, and by better educating people on Type 2 diabetes, we can lessen the risk and complications of it, and thereby lessen the healthcare costs of treating it.
I began my day having breakfast with and speaking to members of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus and select lobbyists and congressmen and women. Together we conferred on the previously mentioned needs through personal conversations and speeches. When I gave my speech, I ended up breaking down in tears. It is just so difficult for me to talk about the disease. I can't help but think of all the times that my father literally died and was revived due to low blood sugar comas. My entire life was dedicated to maintaining a 24 hour watch over him -- and not always successfully. I feel so badly for other families who are forced to endure and suffer through similar trials. Anyhow, I made it through my speech and was a little embarrassed over showing such emotion but hopefully I made my point.
Maria Menounos, Ambassador for the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Diabetes Aware program with Novo Nordisk, addresses the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. Photo by Gediyon Kifle.
Diabetes is something we really need to worry about as a nation. More than 20 million people have diabetes -- 6 million are walking around with it unknowingly. Type 2 is the most prevalent with 90 percent of people suffering from it and yet it is largely preventable. People need to get screened and they need to take the necessary steps now to avoid it. Diabetes is an awful reality for far too many people and it's a huge burden for our healthcare system. We could alleviate the health care costs and thus have a healthier country with early prevention and proper attention to diet and exercise. 1 in 3 kids born today will have diabetes. The number of Diabetes sufferers is expected to double by 2025. We need to act now. We need to change.
Maria Menounos, Ambassador for the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Diabetes Aware program with Novo Nordisk, meets with Senator Thad Cochran. Photo by Gediyon Kifle.
From breakfast, I was off to engage in a full day of meetings with various senators and representatives to hammer these points home. By the last meeting and by the day's end, I believe we made great strides in getting Washngton to more effectively treat Diabetes. I am so thankful to Novo Nordisk for arranging the events of the day and for putting so much towards this cause and for EIF, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, for selecting me to be their Diabetes awareness ambassador and for all their efforts toward various causes. I hope I can do even more in the future.
For more information on Diabetes, go to www.diabetesaware.com
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