CHICAGO, IL – Legislation spearheaded by State Representative Jim Durkin to increase diabetes awareness and prevention was today signed into law by Governor Quinn.

House bill 2199, now Public Act (98-0097) ensures uniform standards for reporting diabetes rates, outreach, needs, costs and other resources.

“It is very important that we are able to get a handle on the number of Illinoisans living with diabetes so we can better care for them, and increase awareness for those who may be at risk,” said Durkin.

Illinois is one of the first states to put these standards into place, and Representative Durkin hopes to have more states join the effort to increase awareness. After all 50 states have implemented uniform standards, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be able to successfully track the disease and organizations such as JDRF and the American Diabetes Association can provide better care and prevention.

 Illinois is working to improve diabetes resources and outreach, and this new law will help promote awareness. It is predicted that by 2045 one in three Americans will be affected by diabetes.

Representative Durkin is one of the founding members of the Illinois Legislative Diabetes Caucus which is working to raise diabetes awareness in Illinois.  For more information please visit www.ilgadiabetes.com.