Great news! The U.S. Senate recently passed a short-term extension of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) as part of a continuing resolution that keeps the Federal government operating through November 21. This patch provides nearly $21.5 million for critical type 1 diabetes research while Congress works to pass a longer-term SDP renewal, and an agreement on the Federal budget for this fiscal year.

The patch will enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bolster funding for ‘Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet,’ which could be used to launch new prevention trials that have already been approved by the Network. In addition, the funding would enable the NIH to more quickly issue funding announcements and move forward on other high-priority type 1 diabetes research areas.

Even though the SDP has strong, bipartisan support, Congress has many other priorities it must address over the next several weeks and months. We will need all the help we can get to secure a multi-year renewal of the program, so please encourage your family members, friends and colleagues to sign-up to become an advocate.

I will be manning an Advocacy Table at both the Houston and The Woodlands Walk.  Feel free to stop by and learn more about how important Advocacy is in the fight to make Type One Type None.

Peggy Kruckemeyer
JDRF Volunteer