We sincerely thank you for providing us the opportunity to testify about anissue that we

We sincerely thank you for providing us the opportunity to testify about anissue that we know all too well — life with type 1 diabetes and our hope fora cure.Ten years ago, Tommy Solo — an 8 year old JDRF volunteer from Boston — had abig idea.Tommy was frustrated with his Type 1 diabetes and was looking forsomething he could do to move us closer to a cure.He thought, “Why not havekids with diabetes, like me, go to Washington, D.C. and tell Congress we needtheir help?”Even at age 8, Tommy understood, intuitively, what JDRF’s Moms and Dads andpeople personally affected by Type 1 had always known: When confronted bychallengesto our personal well-being, the solution starts with ourwillingness to share our stories, make our case, and ask others to join us aspartners in our cause. As a result, by 1981, I was well onmy way to having vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.I wasn’t alone.Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of adult blindness. I was terrified.How was I to continue doing the things I loved most –dancing, horse back riding, window shopping on Madison Avenue — if I wentblind?At the time I was diagnosed with Type 1, there was no simple treatment toprevent diabetic retinopathy.

But when my retinas started to show evidence ofdamage due to diabetes, there was, thankfully, a new procedure availablecalled “laser photocoagulation” that was able to keep me from going blind But not without costs. Because, in order to halt the progression of diabeticretinopathy and save your “central vision,” the laser must literally burnholes in your peripheral retina.So the combination of the disease itself and its vision preserving treatmenthas resulted in my having a difficult time seeing when it is dark or when I’min a room that isn’t well lit.My peripheral vision, and vision below mywaist, is also very limited. The Special Diabetes Program — which has been renewed by Congress four timessince it was enacted in 1997 — currently provides $150 million per year fortype 1 diabetes research.This critical funding has led to some remarkableadvances… including real progress in developing new therapies that arepotentially life-changing for all of us sitting before you, today.I will ask our friend, Dr.

Griffin Rodgers the Director of the NIDDK, toelaborate more on the scientific progress we’ve seen, thanks to the SpecialDiabetes Program funding.But there are a few areas of research that I wouldlike to touch upon today, myself — areas that affect me, personally.Researchers are using the Special Diabetes Program funds to find a way toprevent and reverse diabetic retinopathy.This is very exciting work and itgives me great hope, especially for children and young adults with Type 1. Asa result of these advances, people with diabetes may be able to live with farless fear of visual loss and have an alternative to laser therapies’ “burn thevillage to save the village” approach. Major advances are also being made in the development of new devices, calledContinuous Glucose Monitors or CGMs. By measuring blood sugars, automatically,every few minutes, and graphically showing the results and the up and downtrends,CGMs help people to better understand their diabetes, and avoidextreme highs or lows. Sugar Ray LeonardWorld Champion BoxerAt the Hearing Entitled: “Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and RealHope for a Cure”Wednesday, June 24, 20099:00 a.m.Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government AffairsGood morning Senator Collins, Senator Lieberman, and members of the Committee. I am Sugar Ray Leonard, and I appreciate this opportunity to appear beforeyou today.I would like to testify about the burden of diabetes and the needfor continued research funding to cure this devastating disease.

First, I would like to thank Senator Collins for her unwavering dedication topeople with diabetes.As a diabetes advocate, I know how grateful we all areto have you as one of our champions.It is wonderful to be here in Washington, DC as part of the Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation’s Children’s Congress.I grew up not far from here, inPalmer Park, Maryland.My teenage years were spent in the boxing ring,winning a number of amateur boxing championships. I won National Golden GloveChampionships, AAU championships, and gold medals at both the Pan AmericanGames and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. During this time of great personal accomplishment, privately my family facedtremendous challenges as my father struggled to manage his diabetes.We arenot alone in this fight.Nationwide, more than 24 million people havediabetes, a chronic disease that imposes a huge emotional and financial burdenon patients and their families.I know all too well the toll that diabetes can take on a family.As I closedthe book on my amateur boxing career, I planned to begin a new chapter in mylife as a college student at the University of Maryland, but I had to face thereality of my father’s illness, and the incredible medical bills that resultedfrom his life with diabetes.My decision to turn professional was basedlargely on the desire to help my family cover the costs of my father’s care. Other days, you’re managing the fight well and able to outsmart and outboxyour opponent.One of my most memorable fights was my re-match againstRoberto Duran.I lost my welterweight crown to Duran just a few monthsearlier, and I couldn’t wait to get my title back.I fought a smart andskillful match.

With just seconds to go in the 8th round, Duran suddenlywalked back to his corner, threw up his hands and said, “no mas.”No more He gave up. Now, it would be easy for these children here today to say “no mas.”Thefight against diabetes is a tough one.Some days, nothing seems moredifficult, more impossible, to battle.There are days we all think aboutsaying “no mas.”But it’s clear these children have fight in them.They’rewilling to go as many rounds as it takes to beat this formidable opponent. And we have you in our corner.Thanks to Congress’ support for the SpecialDiabetes Program, the advancements made through research are bringing uscloser to the cure that will allow these children to finally knock outdiabetes. Thank you again for having me here to testify today, and I look forward toanswering your questions.Testimony of Mr. Nick JonasMusician, Jonas BrothersAt the Hearing Entitled: “Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and RealHope for a Cure”Wednesday, June 24, 20099:00 amBefore the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsGood morning.My name is Nick Jonas, and I’d like to thank you for having mehere today.I’d like to share my story of living with type 1 diabetes, andtalk about the need to fund research to find a cure. Over time, these everyday victories can make a big difference in your life –just like every research advancement moves us along on our path to a cure. While on that path, I want to be a positive face for diabetes.I want to showkids with type 1 diabetes – like all the kids sitting with me today – thatthey can live with diabetes and still make their dreams come true.Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today, and thank you foryour commitment to diabetes research.With your help, a little bit longer andwe will all be fine.