MAINE, USA — Sen. Susan Collins met with famous R&B artist Usher in Washington D.C. to discuss the available screenings for Type 1 diabetes, on Thursday.
Usher told Collins, R-Maine, about his son who has Type 1 diabetes (TD1) and advocated for better access to diabetes screening for families, to increase early detection, according to a press release from Collins' office.
Type 1 diabetes can occur in all ages but is the most common type of diabetes in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During their meeting, Collins and Usher discussed the impact screening and early detection can have. They agreed it would allow families time to plan and prepare for a life with the disease and provide opportunities for individuals to participate in clinical trials or other therapies that could help delay clinical onset, the release stated.
Collins recently introduced the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act with Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, to improve early detection, according to the release.
"This bill would direct the CDC to conduct a national public awareness campaign about the signs and symptoms of T1D for both healthcare providers and the public, as well as the benefits of early detection and screening," the release stated.
"Early detection of Type 1 diabetes can prevent life-threatening conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis and potentially allow for the use of therapeutics to delay the clinical onset of the condition, helping to improve patients' quality of life and reliance on insulin," Collins stated. "It was a pleasure to talk about the importance of Type 1 diabetes screening with Usher in Washington and hear about his impressive son. I thanked Usher for lending his voice and platform to increasing awareness of the burden of Type 1 diabetes."
