Shondra McCage serves as a member of the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Disparities Action Council and National Advocacy Committee and has been an advocate for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). As a tribal member of the Chickasaw Nation, Shon has witnessed the way that diabetes harms tribal communities and the positive impact SDPI makes. “The Special Diabetes Program for Indians supports effective clinical and community-based programs throughout Indian Country, and the loss of this funding would be detrimental to our communities,” she said. SDPI funds 301 diabetes prevention and treatment programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities in 35 states. It uses a community-based public health approach to diabetes treatment and prevention, and develops services and activities that address local concerns and needs. 

SDPI and its counterpart, the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (SDP-type 1) make up the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). SDP saves lives and provides an undeniable return on investment. Both components of SDP provide a clear return on investment and have tremendous bipartisan support. Earlier this year, 378 members of Congress and 68 Senators signed letters to leadership in support of SDP. The blog below from Gwen Rathbun, director of federal government affairs, explains why a long-term renewal of SDP is so important.