Diabetes Foundation Honored at Saint Louis Galleria

A presentation honoring the work of Junior Diabetes Research Foundation International happened Wednesday at the in .

Margaret Donnelly, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, presented a proclamation signed by Gov. Jay Nixon during the event at :

"WHEREAS, diabetes of all types continues to grow at an alarming rate; and

"WHEREAS, the number of people with diabetes has climbed to more than 38 million people in the United States alone (including as many as three million Americans living with type 1 diabetes), which represents more than 60 million American family members affected by diabetes; and

"WHEREAS, one of every five health care dollars is spent caring for someone diagnosed with diabetes, and one of every three Medicare dollars is attributed directly to diabetes; and

"WHEREAS, the national cost for diabetes is $174 billion per year and that cost is estimated to triple in the next 25 years without dramatic changes in how diabetes is managed, prevented or cured; and

"WHEREAS, November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to priority issues for those of us determined to bring about an end to type 1 diabetes, and a time for communities to rally together and talk about diabetes, how serious it is, how to best manage it and how to fund the research to cure it; and

"WHEREAS, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the leader in research for the treatment, cure and ultimate prevention of diabetes.  JDRF sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

"NOW THEREFORE, I, Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, do hereby proclaim November 2011 to be

"DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH IN MISSOURI

"IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, this 31st day of October, 2011."