Last month, three important pieces of legislation for people with diabetes were passed. The Diabetes Screening Evaluation and Outreach Program Recommendations (H.R. 6012), the Diabetes in Minority Populations Evaluation Act/Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act (H.R. 1995), and the Gestational Diabetes Act (H.R. 5354) will all help pave the way toward better care for current diabetes patients as well as preventative measures for the future.

Many other issues continue to require sponsorship and legislation, however. Right now the American Diabetes Association is asking advocates to ask their senators and representatives to help pass the Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act (S. 844/H.R. 1995), to retain the Special Diabetes Program in its entirety, to help further the cause of diabetes research and prevention, and many other different important pieces of legislation that can help turn the diabetes epidemic in our country around.

To take action on these and other diabetes issues, click here.

Stopping diabetes, of course, does not end with Capitol Hill. There are many things we can do in our everyday lives to help stop the disease and find a cure. Here are just a few of the things we can do as citizens:

• Educate others about diabetes and create a national dialogue about the importance of health and fitness.
• Work on finding a cure through outreach, fund raising, and awareness building.
• Be an advocate for people with diabetes. Stop the blaming and criticism of those with the disease; it doesn’t help anyone. Instead, help friends and family members with diabetes cope with the disease with help from their doctor.
• Focus on preventing diabetes in your own life. Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and keep a healthy weight for yourself. Help teach children how to eat a nutritious variety of food in addition to treating yourselves to the occasional sweet, ice cream, or other treat.
• Don’t go by numbers or scales, but instead by how you feel, how your blood pressure and heart rate are, and how healthy you are overall. Many people believe that weight is a big factor, as it is in many cases; but studies have shown people who are slightly overweight or somewhat overweight can be just as healthy, if not healthier, than people who are underweight. Together, you and your doctor can determine your risk factor and whether or not you need to make lifestyle adjustments.
• Exercise regularly to keep your heart healthy and excess weight off, if you can. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy workout might look like for you.