THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            120
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO UPDATE THE LEGISLATURE
    ON THE EXISTENCE AND PURPOSE OF ANY DIABETES PROGRAMS IN
    HAWAII.



 1        WHEREAS, an estimated sixteen million people in the United
 2   States suffer from diabetes mellitus, a serious, lifelong
 3   disease; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, roughly half of those afflicted are unaware that
 6   they have the disease and therefore do not seek the care of the
 7   appropriate health-care professional; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, diabetes mellitus is a disorder due to either a
10   decrease in insulin production or a reduced ability to utilize
11   insulin which results in elevated blood-sugar levels; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, in addition to placing an additional strain on a
14   person's kidneys, the increase in blood-sugar also alters the
15   metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins; and
16   
17        WHEREAS, although the cause of diabetes mellitus is
18   unknown, heredity and diet are believed to play a role in the
19   development of the disease; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, diabetes education is an integral part of a
22   successful treatment plan; now, therefore,
23   
24        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
25   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
26   Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is
27   requested to provide information on the existence and purpose
28   of any program dealing with diabetes, diabetes prevention, or
29   diabetes education in Hawaii; and
30   
31        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is
32   requested to submit this information to the Legislature no
33   later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular
34   Session of 2001; and
35   
36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this

 
Page 2                                                     
                                  S.C.R. NO.            120
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________