WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recognition of Mother’s Day this Sunday, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX-26) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-16) introduced the Gestational Diabetes (GEDI) Act of 2013.  According to the American Diabetes Association, up to 18 percent of all pregnancies in the U.S. are affected by gestational diabetes.  The GEDI Act aims to lower the incidence of gestational diabetes and prevent women afflicted with this condition and their children from developing Type 2 diabetes. The bill passed the House in 2010, but stalled in the Senate. 

The GEDI Act would:
•             Develop a multi-site gestational diabetes research project within the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) diabetes program to enhance surveillance and public health research on gestational diabetes.
•             Provide grants to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes.
•             Expand basic, clinical and public health research investigating gestational diabetes and available treatments and therapies. 
                
The recommended screening period for gestational diabetes is during weeks 24-28 of a pregnancy.   In 2011, the Institute of Medicine recommended all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes during this time period, but also at the first prenatal visit for women who are deemed at risk.  During the 24th to 28th weeks of gestation is when most gestational diabetes cases are diagnosed, and the majority of cases go away postnatal.  However, if untreated, it could increase the risk of mother and child developing Type 2 diabetes among other potential complications. 

“While there may not be uniform agreement on all of the IOM’s findings, gestational diabetes is a critical public health issue that I have been talking about for years. I am glad that the IOM has recognized the importance of this condition and recommends we do more to ensure women receive this care,” said Dr. Burgess who is the Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Co-Chair of the Congressional Health Caucus. “During my 25-year medical practice as an obstetrician, I saw far too many expectant mothers and newborn babies affected by gestational diabetes. This is a preventable disease, and patients will benefit from additional knowledge. The statistics speak for themselves – mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, and their children are at an increased risk not only for diabetes but other pre-natal complications as well. As I have said before and the IOM agrees, we must improve detection to improve more effective preventative measures that will reduce clinical costs for the patients as well as the states.”

“Each year, approximately 135,000 American women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  It can occur in women who have never had diabetes.  We need to be more proactive in detecting, treating and reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes and we need more research into the causes of this harmful disease, which is why I am proud to re-introduce this legislation with Rep. Burgess,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, and primary author of the legislation. 

The Congressmen both believe that the ongoing fight against diabetes is a bipartisan battle and one that needs constant attention. By continuing to develop ways to identify, treat and prevent, the eventual goal of finding a cure becomes obtainable.