* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Informational Hearing - Diabetes in Baltimore City
FOR the purpose of requesting that the Commissioner of Health brief the Council on the current prevalence of Diabetes in Baltimore City and what Health Department resources are being utilized to help inform citizens about the characteristics of the illness, in order to help combat this terrible and debilitating disease.
Body
Recitals
Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or doesn't properly use the insulin that the body makes. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed by the body. Approximately 17 million people in the in the United States have diabetes. An estimated 382,000 people in Maryland have diabetes. Half of these people have been diagnosed, but the other half have not and are unaware that they have the disease. An additional 1,326,032 Marylanders are at risk of developing diabetes due to the risk factors of age, obesity, and sedentary life style. Diabetes and diabetes-related illness cause 74,000 hospitalizations each year. Of these, 1,620 are for amputations, with an average length 16.7-days hospital stay at an average cost of $17,888 per hospitalization, and 4,670 are for diabetes-related kidney disease, with an average length 9-days hospital stay at an average cost of $11,413. Diabetes is also the cause of an estimated 285 new cases of blindness in Maryland each year.
According to the latest 5 year average statistics, which are compiled by the Center for Preventative Health Services, in Baltimore City alone there were 44,524 cases of diabetes. Of these, 19,443 were male, and 25,080 were female. These numbers show that over 17 percent of documented diabetes cases in the State of Maryland are found in Baltimore City. In order to help combat this horrible and debilitating disease, the Health Department, as well as other City agencies and services, need to come together to help keep the average citizen informed of the risks, as well as the services that can be provided to help those who have and have not already been diagnosed. This hearing will help the City Council get the information it needs to work with the Commissioner of Health, in order to provide the best services to the greatest number of people in a manner that is befitting to our great City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this body requests that the Commissioner of Health brief the Council regarding the current prevalence of Diabetes in Baltimore City and what Health Department resources are being utilized to help inform citizens about the characteristics of the illness, in order to help combat this terrible and debilitating disease.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Commissioner of Health, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
dlr06-0676~intro/23Feb06
ccres/diabetes:af
dlr06-0676~intro/23Feb06
- 2 -
ccres/diabetes:af