Nearly 200 Advocates, Researchers and Professional Football Players Will Assemble Thursday, March 22 for American Diabetes Association's Annual Call to Congress

ARLINGTON, Va., March 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, March 22, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will release its new "Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017" report, detailing the fiscal impact of diabetes on our citizens individually and for us as a nation. ADA will also bring together nearly 200 people living with and affected by diabetes, the caregivers who support them, researchers, and 17 current and former professional football players to advocate for federal funding for diabetes research and programs, continued access to affordable and adequate health care and medications during the ADA's 2018 Call to Congress advocacy event. The professional football players in attendance are part of the ADA's Team Tackle initiative, which includes current and former professional football players who are dedicated to raising awareness about diabetes.

Who: William T. Cefalu, MD, Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer, American Diabetes Association
Jane E.B. Reusch, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association
Martha P. Clark, MBA, Interim CEO, American Diabetes Association
Senator Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, Co-Chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, Co-Chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus

What: The ADA will release and highlight the key findings of the "Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2017" report (Economic Costs of Diabetes report). ADA leaders and two U.S. Senators will focus on critical health care needs of people with diabetes, particularly the findings of the ADA's report. Note: The Economic Costs of Diabetes report will be published online in Diabetes Care at 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, March 22, 2018 and is embargoed until that time.

Throughout the day, ADA leaders, advocates from around the country and members of Team Tackle will meet with their members of Congress to share their messages of urgency about access and affordability of diabetes programs and care, and critical funding for diabetes research.

Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building ? SD406

When: Thursday, March 22, 2018, 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET

More: Select ADA leaders, Team Tackle players and advocates will be available for media interviews upon request. Please send interview requests to [email protected].

About the American Diabetes Association
Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The ADA drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the ADA supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). 

Contact: Michelle Kirkwood, 703-299-2053
[email protected]

Danielle Veira, 703-253-4843
[email protected]

SOURCE American Diabetes Association