text: Yesterday, I met with the JDRF, the leader of the type 1 diabetes (T1D) communityÛÓunifying global efforts to cure, treat, and prevent T1D. Diabetes is growing rapidly among all populations in the United States. Today, over 26 million Americans live with diabetes ÛÒ quadruple the number from just 30 years ago. The annual cost of diabetes to the U.S. economy is approximately $174 billion, and it is estimated that 1 in 3 American children born in 2000 are likely to develop some form of diabetes in their lifetime.  I am proud to support the Special Diabetes Program to advance T1D research, and fund treatment, education, and prevention programs for those disproportionately affected by Type 2 Diabetes.