The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) issued the following statement in response to the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
The ADA appreciates the emphasis on improving the health and well-being of Americans, focusing on preventing chronic disease and investing in nutrition. The United States is facing an epidemic of two of the most prevalent chronic diseases: diabetes and obesity. These diseases jeopardize the physical and financial health of our nation.
Diabetes is one of the most expensive chronic diseases and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In fact, one out of every four dollars in U.S. health care is spent on caring for people living with diabetes. Without proper management, diabetes can lead to severe complications including heart disease, kidney failure, amputation, and even death. Obesity is linked to up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes each year. Without treatment, obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart, liver and kidney diseases, and thirteen types of obesity-related cancers among many other costly chronic conditions.
The ADA urges the Administration and Congress to support robust federal funding for diabetes and obesity research and prevention programs and ensure sustainability of the federal entities conducting the research and prevention programs. An investment in federally funded research and programs is not solely an investment in the well-being of those affected by diabetes or obesity, or both, but a commitment to combating the rising rates of chronic conditions, including diabetes and obesity, across our nation.
For decades, the United States’ public health and research institutions including the National Institutes of Health , National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Special Diabetes Program and Special Diabetes Program of Indians, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Diabetes Translation, the National Diabetes Prevention Program and CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity have been the gold standard in research, prevention and innovation.
For the over 155 million Americans living with diabetes and prediabetes, access to this sustained pipeline of leading research and innovation has been critical—federal investments in these agencies have driven the development of more effective treatments, early diagnostic tools and, ultimately, a potential for a cure. The investment must not stop now. We need to invest more, not less in the critical evidence-based research and programs that work to tackle and curtail chronic disease in the U.S.
###
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes—and we’re not stopping. There are 155 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).
