The American Diabetes Association, the nation's largest and leading voluntary health organization in the fight against diabetes, announced today that Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), received the Association's prestigious Public Policy Leadership Award at the organization's Community Volunteer Leadership Conference & Annual Meeting on November 23, 2008, in Tampa, FL.

The Public Policy Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact through public policy to improve the lives of people with diabetes and further the goals of the American Diabetes Association.

"On behalf of the American Diabetes Association, it is an honor to recognize the unparalleled contributions of Senator Ted Kennedy in the fight against diabetes," commented R. Stewart Perry, Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association. "For more than four decades Senator Kennedy has served as a steadfast protector of critical programs, civil rights and services that support our mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people living with diabetes."

Senator Kennedy, the second most senior member of the Senate, has represented the people of Massachusetts since 1962. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, he has worked diligently to defend access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans. Additionally, Kennedy has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of Americans with disabilities including leading the efforts toward passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act which was recently signed into law and working with the American Diabetes Association to defeat federal legislation that would have allowed federal pre-emption of state diabetes and other mandates.

In addition to his many victories for people with diabetes, Kennedy again delivered vital support when he voted in 2008 to re-authorize the Special Diabetes Programs under the Medicare package which included a two-year extension of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research. These two programs represent a significant contribution from the federal government to combat, prevent and cure diabetes. Previous funding has led to the real advances in many areas of type 1 diabetes research and significant increases in the availability of diabetes prevention and treatment services for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate with nearly 24 million children and adults living with this disease and another 57 million Americans at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

American Diabetes Association