Diabetes Advocates in Utah Call for Support of Stem Cell Funding Bill

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Congress is again attempting to expand access for researchers to embryonic stem cells that could help find cures for chronic diseases like diabetes. Diabetes patients and advocates like Dawn Higley of Utah County have begun calling their Congressional representatives to ask for support:

"I've believed for a long time that my two children with type one diabetes will see a cure in their lifetime, but they're 17 and 20," says Higley.

For the sake of her children and the thousands of people she treats as a nurse and diabetes specialist, Higley says more stem cell research is urgent. Higley is an administrator for Intermountain Healthcare.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would allow federal funding for stem cell lines derived after August 2001. Congress passed the measure last year, only to have President Bush veto it. It is unclear if Congress would have enough votes this time to override a presidential veto. Still, Higley says the attention to stem cells in Congress inspires diabetes patients and their families to learn more about advances in research and treatment.

"They do come to us with more education and more sophisticated questions than they've had in the past," says Higley.

There are an estimated 21 million Americans with diabetes and twice as many people as that are at risk for the disease.

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