Oklahoma's Diabetes Advocacy Day to Shine Light on Health Crisis at State Capitol on April 29

Residents of Oklahoma living with diabetes, along with their loved ones and others concerned about the escalating situation, are invited to the state Capitol next Tuesday for Diabetes Advocacy Day. According to a press release, the event, hosted from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Capitol Rotunda, is a concerted effort to shine a spotlight on a disease that is heavily impacting the state in terms of both human and financial costs.



Oklahoma currently grapples with a sobering statistic, being the state with the fourth highest diabetes mortality rate in the country. With a diabetic prevalence of over 12.6 percent among the adult population and one in four Oklahomans standing on the brink with prediabetes, the financial implications are just as grim.

The burden carried by the disease on Oklahoma's wallet is around $3.8 billion every year, and it's hitched with numerous serious health complications such as heart disease, blindness, and amputations, to name a few.Sen.

Carri Hicks, who co-chairs the Legislative Diabetes Caucus and has a personal stake in the crusade against diabetes with her son diagnosed at just 17 months, underscores the ordeal of a diabetes diagnosis. "Suddenly, you’re facing health issues and complications you’d never even considered," Hicks expressed in a statement. The Senator advocates for empowering Oklahomans with knowledge and necessary resources to navigate the complexity of living with diabetes.

Diabetes Advocacy Day will not only feature expert insights from 11 a.m. until noon but also pave the way until 2 p.

m. for participants to engage with vendors providing crucial information and resources on diabetes management. Hicks emphasized the importance of this connection, stating, "It’s frightening and overwhelming, so knowledge is critical in navigating a diabetes diagnosis.

That’s why we want to invite everyone to the Capitol to learn more about diabetes, the latest treatments, and meet with their legislators to advocate for greater access to affordable care.".