Bill Text: NJ AJR59 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-11 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [AJR59 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR59-Introduced.html
No. 59
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Freiman and Stanley
SYNOPSIS
Designates November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Joint Resolution designating the month of November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month."
Whereas, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the international World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar, and it affects more than 29 million Americans; and
Whereas, The CDC recognizes that type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, representing an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed adult cases in the nation; and
Whereas, The American Diabetes Association has found that diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with more than seven million Americans undiagnosed and more than 5,000 Americans diagnosed each day; and
Whereas, The World Heart Federation notes that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death associated with diabetes and results from complications associated with diabetes, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and obesity; and
Whereas, Cardiovascular disease is a term used by the American Heart Association to describe problems with the heart and blood vessels, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke; and
Whereas, People with type 2 diabetes are at two to four times greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease, and findings from a recent study reveal that 52 percent of adults living with type 2 diabetes are unaware that they are at an increased risk; and
Whereas, According to the National Diabetes Education Program, two out of three deaths in people with type 2 diabetes are attributed to cardiovascular disease in the United States, accounting for 68 percent of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes; and
Whereas, The total health care costs for the treatment of diabetes have been reported to be approximately $245 billion annually, with direct medical costs accounting for $176 billion of the total costs in 2013 and cardiovascular disease accounting for 28 percent of total costs; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, the amount paid by Medicare for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease totals $1,483,620,879 for 5,481 beneficiaries with prevalence reaching 9.7 percent; and
Whereas, The African American and Hispanic/Latino populations have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and associated complications; and
Whereas, 13.7 percent of the African American population in New Jersey's Medicare community is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the amount paid by Medicare in the State totals $276,869,510 for 813 beneficiaries; and
Whereas, 10.2 percent of the Hispanic population in New Jersey's Medicare community is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the amount paid by Medicare in the State totals $50,350,480 for 157 beneficiaries; and
Whereas, Appropriate awareness and education about the cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes can effectively improve the overall outcome and reduce the financial burdens of the illness; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Department of Health and other relevant partners seek to promote awareness, education, and action related to diabetes and the link to cardiovascular disease; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of November of each year is designated as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month" to raise awareness of the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and encourage education and improved public understanding with regard to the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation recognizing "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month" in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would establish the month of November of each year as "Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to raise awareness of the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and encourage education and improved public understanding in regard to the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar. The condition affects more than 29 million Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with more than seven million Americans undiagnosed and more than 5,000 Americans diagnosed each day. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, representing an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed adult cases.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death associated with diabetes and accounts for 68 percent of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes also have a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the first place. Yet findings from a recent study reveal that 52 percent of adults living with type 2 diabetes are unaware of this increased risk.
There are significant costs associated with the treatment of patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and Medicare expenditures for this population in the State total nearly $1.5 billion for 5,481 beneficiaries. By increasing public awareness and providing education about the cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes, the State can improve the overall outcome of, and reduce the financial burdens associated with, the illness.
