Health Care Reform. Get involved. Someone you know will thank you.

Today, people with diabetes face a health care crisis.

Diabetes is a staggering epidemic affecting nearly 24 million Americans and another 57 million with pre-diabetes. One in three children faces a future with diabetes.

Unless we act now, people who need health care coverage the most will continue to be the ones who aren’t protected.

Visit diabetes.org to find out how a couple minutes of your time can help.

Walk the Rock 2009 Step Out to Fight Diabetes is just around the corner…

Walk the Rock is almost here. If you haven’t registered yet or want more information about the event click here. We still have a ways to go to hit our $150,000 goal and you can help. Join us at the beautiful Spring Mountain Ranch and enjoy a day of sun and fun all for a good cause.

Step Out will take you on an exciting journey back to a simpler time. You’ll walk by a 200-year old blacksmith shop, stroll around beautiful Lake Harriet, and pass by green pastures complete with horses. The changing colors of the leaves will add to the beauty and splendor of Spring Mountain Ranch in autumn.

After you walk take part in the American Diabetes Association’s County Fair in the Group Use Area! From tasty healthy snacks and fun games, to our pig petting area and live music, our fair truly offers something for the whole family! So please join us and Step Out of the city – And towards a CURE!

Diabetes Discriminates

We know that diabetes is an epidemic in our country but did you know that African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Pacific Americans, and Native Americans are hit even harder by this disease?
Children from minority groups have nearly a 50-50 chance of developing diabetes in their lifetime. To make matters worse, the complications of diabetes – such as blindness, amputations, end-stage kidney disease and death – also impact minority groups at higher rates.
Ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act.
This bill, which was introduced earlier this week, will enhance public education and support culturally appropriate health promotion and prevention programs, fund research into the causes of these disparities and improve treatment of diabetes in affected populations.
With better knowledge of the causes and complications of diabetes in minority populations we can develop better treatments for all people with diabetes and we can change the future for our children, so they can beat the odds of living with diabetes.
Click on Take Action Now to send a letter to your Members of Congress asking them to co-sponsor the Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act.
Take Action Now!

http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=GMaCrSIMApstZ4t8Awvu8Q..

Nevada ADA 2009 Upcoming Event Calendar

February 25th – Step Out Interested Parties Meeting

March 7th – DeTour #4 at Las Vegas Cyclery
March 14th – “Pedicure” at Las Vegas Cyclery (women only Training Clinic)
March 18, 19, 23,24 – Hands-On Bike Maintenance clinics
March 21st – DeTour #6 at Land Rover Las Vegas

April 4th – Tour de Cure at Henderson Events Plaza
April TBD – Leadership Board Meeting

July TBD – Leadership Board Meeting

October 3rd – Step Out Walk at Spring Mountain Ranch
October TBD – Leadership Board Meeting

For information regarding any of these upcoming events, please call our office at (702) 369-9995 or email us at mstokes@diabetes.org or crohrer@diabetes.org

2009 Step Out Planning Committee Meeting

Please join us at our upcoming Step Out Planning Committee Interested Parties Meeting to learn more about how you can help us plan the 2009 Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
McMullan’s Irish Restaurant
(4650 W Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103, next to the Orleans Casino)
Appetizers and beverages will be provided.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Carly Rohrer at (702) 369-9995 x7483 or crohrer@diabetes.org.

With your help, we can change the future of diabetes.  Thank you for all that you do in the fight against diabetes. We look forward to seeing you on February 25th.

Join us at McMullen’s Irish Pub Tonight, January 29th

You are cordially invited to join the American Diabetes Association’s
Nevada Chapter Volunteer Leadership Board

A reception for new members and interested parties will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM on January 29, 2009

Information will be presented about 2009 activities and projects, Volunteer Leadership responsibilities the American Diabetes Association Strategic Plan

McMullan’s Irish Pub
4650 W Tropicana Avenue
(at Cameron, just west of the Orleans)

Please RSVP to mstokes@diabetes.org or kascales@cox.net

This is your opportunity to support the American Diabetes Association’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all those affected by diabetes.

Urge Congress to Reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

The U.S. House of Representatives are planning to vote to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) tomorrow and we need your help. Please urge Rep. Shelley Berkley to reauthorize this vital child health program.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is a federal-state grant program that subsidizes the cost of insuring children in families that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase private health insurance. By making sure children have access to health care we can help to reverse the future of diabetes and the staggering costs of this disease.

Right now, one in every three children born will develop diabetes if current trends continue. For minority children things are even worse, with one in two African American or Latino children developing diabetes.

Medical bills are more than double for people with diabetes than without – this is a burden that families covered by SCHIP simply cannot afford. Yet a child with diabetes but without health insurance, is a child that is not only at high risk for the immediate life-threatening complications of diabetes, but faces a future with the increased likelihood of the long term complications including blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and amputation.

You can help to change the life of a child by urging Rep. Berkley to vote “yes” to reauthorize SCHIP! It will only take a few minutes to personalize and send the sample letter provided. Adding information about your connection to diabetes will make your letter much more persuasive.

Take Action Now. Click here to send your letter asking Rep. Berkley to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Letter from Senator Harry Reid

As a member of the ADA Leadership council and also a 19 year type 1 diabetic myself, I feel it is important to get involved and speak out on diabetes and things that can help our cause. Recently I wrote a letter to our Senator regarding advocacy and funding for diabetes research and actually got a reply. Not sure what good it will due but it is important to let you politicians know what issues you would like them to fight for in Washington. Especially with all of the changes that are sure to be made with the new administration regarding healthcare.

Please ready below for the response from Sen. Harry Reid and if you would like to become an advocate for diabetes visit the following link and let yourself be heard.  ~rmc

http://advocacy.diabetes.org

 

 

December 18, 2008

Dear Mr. Montez-Carr:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me to share your concerns about increasing funding for diabetes research and prevention. I am sorry to hear of your struggle, and I hope you are doing well.

With an estimated seven percent of the U.S. population affected by diabetes, I share your support for programs that improve the health and quality of life for Americans with this disease. As you know, federally-sponsored medical research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, public awareness and outreach initiatives, and disease prevention and management programs can all work toward this goal. As the Senate considers Medicare and appropriations legislation that may impact these programs, please be assured that I will keep your views in mind.

Most recently, I was pleased to include NIH funding in the economic stimulus package I introduced on November 17. In addition to providing $1 billion for the NIH, this comprehensive legislation included measures designed to address increasing unemployment, help working families, and prevent our economy from sliding further into recession.  This bill would have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs through investment in infrastructure and renewable energy projects; improved access to food stamps for families struggling to put food on the dinner table; and increased federal spending in states’ Medicaid programs to help states avoid cutting social services and raising taxes.  To my great disappointment, however, my attempts to bring this bill to a vote were obstructed by my colleagues from across the aisle.

As the appropriations process for the 2009 Fiscal Year continues, please know that I will continue to make NIH funding a priority. I will also continue seeking opportunities to reach a bipartisan agreement and pass economic stimulus legislation. After years of failed policies at home and abroad, the American people have demanded that their collective voice be heard in Washington.  Nevada families deserve the implementation of policies that reward their hard work and help them lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. As we look toward the 111th session of Congress, I remain committed to using my Senate leadership position to achieve these aims, and I will keep your thoughts and priorities in mind as the process moves forward. 

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

My best wishes to you.

Sincerely, HARRY REID, United States Senator, Nevada

New Product – Kathy Smith: Project You Type 2

We recently received a letter from one of our Tour De Cure riders about a new product endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and have pledged to donate a minimum of $500,000 to the ADA. Please check out there website for more info and thank you Frank for your commitment to people affected with Diabetes. ~rmc

“Hi Rocky! I wanted to post a comment to your blog to let others know that we (Team Beachbody) have a new product that received an endorsement by the ADA. It is called Kathy Smith: Project You Type 2. It is a 12 week program that places focus on diet and exercise and has been created for those with Type 2 diabetes.”

“To learn more about and order the program, you may visit our page at http://www.paid2exercise.com. You must register (free) before being allowed into the store. Purchases made of this item will help support the ADA. We have made a commitment to donate a minimum of $500,000 over the next 5 years to the ADA. We also provide a 30 day money back guarantee on all of our products, so if you are not satisfied you may return it. If you are interested and have questions, you may contact me, Frank Back, at 702-278-1950 or by emai at frankback@cox.net.”

The definition for the word “Advocacy”

I have been asked alot lately what “Advocacy” actually means. So here it is for those of you who are wondering what we are always talking about.

Advocacy - The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.

I hope this helps everyone. ~rmc