June 17, 2024 - Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen, Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, announced new bicameral, bipartisan legislation, the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act, to improve early detection and screening for Type 1 diabetes. A companion bill is being led in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Congressman John Joyce (R-PA).

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)

Type 1 diabetes can occur in all ages but is the most common type of diabetes in children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate of new cases of type 1 diabetes in children younger than 20 years has steadily increased in the United States – between 2002 and 2018, rates of type 1 diabetes increased by roughly 2 percent per year among youths. Over 80 percent of diagnoses occur in people with no family history of Type 1 diabetes, making awareness of the signs and symptoms that much more important. 

“Early detection of Type 1 diabetes can prevent life-threatening conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis and potentially allow for the use of therapeutics to delay the clinical onset of the condition, helping to improve patients' quality of life and reliance on insulin,” said Senator Collins. “By encouraging early detection and screenings, this bipartisan bill would empower both health care providers and the public with the knowledge to identify and manage T1D effectively.”

“Far too many Americans don’t know they have Type 1 diabetes until they need emergency care, which creates serious health risks for children and families,” said Senator Shaheen. “By raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes at a young age, we can better detect, diagnose and treat this life-threatening disease. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act with Senator Collins, so type 1 patients like my granddaughter can live healthy, happy lives.” 

“Breakthrough T1D applauds Senators Shaheen and Collins for introducing the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act of 2024,” said Lynn Starr, Chief Global Advocacy Officer for Breakthrough T1D, formerly known as JDRF. “This bill is a critical first step to screening and early detection of type I diabetes. Screening and early detection helps avoid life threatening medical emergencies often associated with diagnosis of T1D and gives newly diagnosed people time to plan and prepare for life with the disease. Early detection and screening also provide opportunities for individuals to participate in clinical trials and consider therapies to delay onset. As Breakthrough T1D continues to work on finding cures for type 1 diabetes, we must ensure that all communities are equipped with the knowledge and awareness about the disease and when to screen for it.”

“The American Diabetes Association applauds Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Susan Collins, as well as Congresswoman Kim Schrier and Congressman John Joyce for introducing the SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act.  Type 1 diabetes affects nearly 2 million Americans. Lack of awareness and early detection often leads to life threatening complications before diagnosis.  This bill would drastically improve public awareness, screening, and early detection of type 1 diabetes, especially for the 304,000 children and adolescents affected. ADA is committed to our mission of finding a cure for diabetes and we strongly encourage members of Congress to support this legislation,” said Charles “Chuck” Henderson, CEO of the American Diabetes Association.

Specifically, Senators Collins and Shaheen’s legislation would:

• Conduct a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes, as well as the importance of early detection and screening.
• Require the CDC to consult with the National Academy of Medicine, health care provider associations, community health worker associations, nonprofits, state, local and tribal health departments, schools and universities to solicit advice on evidence-based information to use in the campaign.
• Direct the CDC to award grants to one or more non-profit entities with histories of carrying out similar public awareness campaigns.

As Co-Chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen and Collins have led action in the U.S. Senate to advance priorities that will lower the costs of insulin, invest in treatment and detection and prioritize diabetes research. 

Last Summer, Shaheen and Collins introduced the Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen vital Type 1 diabetes research happening at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). This research has supported the Institute’s ability to identify those in these early stages of Type 1 diabetes before their disease progresses to clinical diagnosis, which has enabled testing of Type 1 diabetes prevention therapies.

Last fall, the Senators penned a joint op-ed about the importance of lowering the cost of insulin. The Senators have worked to increase awareness of the threats posed by diabetes, invest in research and improve access to treatment options. They have consistently worked to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin.

The SCREEN for Type 1 Diabetes Act is endorsed by Breakthrough T1D and the American Diabetes Association.

The complete text of the legislation can be read here.
Source: Senator Susan Collins

Related: U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen Introduce Legislation to Lower Treatment Costs, Expand Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training