PENNSYLVANIA, November 5 - older, being a member of a high-risk ethnic group, being

overweight and having an inactive lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report

of 2020 released by the CDC, approximately 34.2 million

individuals, or roughly 10.5% of the United States population,

live with the disease; and

WHEREAS, Of this number, approximately 7.3 million, or nearly

21%, are undiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 13% of Pennsylvanians live with some

form of diabetes; and

WHEREAS, In 2019, the Commonwealth matched overall national

statistics with approximately 10.8% of Pennsylvanians being

diagnosed with diabetes; and

WHEREAS, In 2017, diabetes contributed to over 80,000 deaths

nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Diabetes was one of the five leading causes of

health-related deaths in this Commonwealth in 2017 and the

seventh leading cause of death nationwide in 2017; and

WHEREAS, The rate of deaths related to diabetes has increased

over the past four decades; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for diabetes, but an

individual's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be greatly

reduced through a healthy diet, physical activity and

medication; and

WHEREAS, The majority of avoidable costs associated with

treating diabetes result from inpatient hospitalizations and

emergency room visits, which could be reduced by proactively

managing diabetes-associated conditions in an outpatient

setting; and

WHEREAS, Approximately $327 billion was spent in the United

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