Weill Cornell Medicine strongly supports legislation (A.1206 / S.364) requiring insurance coverage of diabetes and prediabetes screening in New York State based on national evidence-based practice guidelines. The legislation would maximize the ability of those most at risk of diabetes to get screened.
Diabetes can be a devastating disease, particularly when it’s undiagnosed and untreated. It damages the blood vessels and nerves, and it can result in loss of vision, kidney failure and the need for amputation. It also is a risk factor for several other diseases, including cardiovascular disease. It is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.
An estimated 1.8 million adults in New York State have been diagnosed with diabetes. While the prevalence of diabetes in New York State among Asian American adults is similar that of Black and Hispanic adults, many Asian Americans go undiagnosed. Studies have shown that Asian Americans with diabetes have a lower body mass index at onset of diabetes, on average, as compared to these other populations. The American Diabetes Association recommends that Asian Americans be screened for diabetes at a lower BMI than other ethnicities.