Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease which causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin. People affected by this disease must manually inject insulin and regularly track their blood sugar to prevent organ failure and possible death. Having too high blood sugar can cause irrepairable damage to organs over time and can shorten the life span by as much as 20 years. Having low blood sugar episodes can cause confusion, dizziness and if untreated can cause fainting and death.

Over time, type 1 diabetics undergo hypoglycemic unawareness meaning they cannot tell if their blood sugar is so low that it puts them at risk of passing out and possible death. A continuous blood glucose monitor tracks the blood sugar of a T1 diabetic all day, alerting them of dangerous blood sugar variations at 5 minute intervals. Most older diabetics rely on a continuous blood sugar monitor to alert them if they are at risk of low blood sugar because they can no longer tell from body feeling alone. This device can be the difference between merely consuming glucose to stabilize sugar levels or going to the hospital.

Currently medicare will not cover these devices. Older diabetics now moving to medicare are at risk of having this life-saving device removed from them at the time in their life when they most need it. Every low blood sugar episode, which can occur multiple times daily, puts them at risk of passing out or dying. Please support coverage to prevent the death of our elderly loved ones by appealing to the House of Representatives to support this bill and get it moved to the Senate.

Please go to this site and add your support. Based on your location a petition will be sent to the members of Congress in your area: https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr3710