Resolution 080885

..Title Proclaiming November 2008 as "American Diabetes Month". ..Body The City Council of Philadelphia designates the Month of November 2008, as "American Diabetes Month" in Philadelphia and reminds Philadelphia that there are steps they can take to reduce the risk of becoming Diabetic. WHEREAS, The rates attributed to Diabetes continues to rise, making the disease a serious -- and expensive -- health problem in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Studies show many cases of diabetes can be delayed or prevented if people adopt some basic healthy behaviors; and WHEREAS, We want every Philadelphian to know the risk factors, the impacts on their health and how the disease can be managed; and WHEREAS, Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when a person's pancreas does not produce, or stops producing, insulin (Type 1 diabetes), or is not producing enough insulin and/or the body cannot use it (Type 2 diabetes); and WHEREAS, Although the causes of diabetes are not certain, genetics and lifestyle factors, such as obesity and lack of physical activity, are related to its development; and WHEREAS, Diabetes affects nearly 24 million people in the U.S., including nearly 800,000 in Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, New federal data shows a 90 percent increase in the number of diabetes cases reported nationwide over the past decade; and WHEREAS, This growth is a key contributor to rising health care costs. According to a recent report by the American Diabetes Association, diabetes cost $174 billion nationally in 2007 in direct costs and productivity losses, up from $132 billion the previous year; and WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Partnership, convened by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, focuses on increasing the quality of life for individuals with diabetes and preventing its onset by working through a partnership of more than 300 organizations and individuals across the state to implement the objectives of the statewide Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. THEREFORE, In order to work toward achieving this goal here in Philadelphia, we do hereby declare the Month of November, as "American Diabetes Month" and reminds Philadelphians that there are steps they can take to reduce the risk of becoming Diabetic; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Month of November 2008, be declared as "American Diabetes Month" in Philadelphia. ..End