WHEREAS, Diabetes is now widely recognized as one of the top public health threats facing our nation today and affects more than 18 million Americans. In 2002, diabetes accounted for $132 billion in direct and indirect health care costs; and
     WHEREAS, Diabetes now affects nearly 1.4 million Washington residents: Over 298,000 people in Washington have been diagnosed with diabetes; over 126,000 people have undiagnosed diabetes; and, over 963,000 people have prediabetes; and
     WHEREAS, People who have diabetes need skills to manage their diabetes and skills to help them stay active in their lives. This training is central to diabetes prevention and care; and
     WHEREAS, Chronic disease self-management programs have a proven success rate, allowing persons with diabetes to better control their diabetes; and
     WHEREAS, Persons living with diabetes who are properly trained with self-management skills are better able to prevent the deadly complications of diabetes, which can include heart disease, stroke, blindness, lower extremity amputation, and kidney failure; and
     WHEREAS, Certified diabetes educators are highly trained multidisciplinary health care professionals dedicated to delivering quality diabetes self-management training; and
     WHEREAS, Evidence has shown that access to a certified diabetes educator improves the management of diabetes, a chronic illness that requires a high level of maintenance; and
     WHEREAS, Certified diabetes educators teach people with diabetes how to maintain the daily rigors of diet, exercise, meal planning, medication monitoring, healthy coping skills, and other factors necessary to control the disease; and
     WHEREAS, Certified diabetes educators are also on the front line of the efforts to promote prevention of diabetes; and
     WHEREAS, Certified diabetes educators have received extensive training in diabetes management. They have met all criteria for initial certification, including a prerequisite qualifying professional credential in a specified health care profession. They have professional practice experience in diabetes self-management training that includes one thousand hours of diabetes teaching, have passed a national examination offered by a certifying body recognized as entitled to grant certification to diabetes educators, and are required to renew the certification every five years;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize the members of the Washington Association of Diabetes Educators and applaud them for their important efforts on behalf of those living with diabetes; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the Washington Association of Diabetes Educators on Thursday, February 16, 2006, WADE Day at the Capitol; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the leadership of the Washington Association of Diabetes Educators.