DIABETES: Clinton Announces $5 Million for Treatment

      President Clinton announced yesterday $5 million in funding for 10 international research centers to perform clinical trials on a promising treatment for juvenile, or Type 1, diabetes, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. The treatment, in which pancreatic cells are transplanted, yielded promising results in preliminary trials. Clinton made the announcement during his speech to the NAACP. "If we can repeat these preliminary findings, it could put a cure for juvenile diabetes within our reach, a true miracle," Clinton said, adding, "We're going to do everything we can about it, and I hope we'll have some of your prayers and your support. It's worth some of your money to spend on that" (7/13). Clinton also said he will request $300 million over five years for diabetes treatment and prevention. Approximately 1 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes and nearly 25% of them are minorities. Of the 30,000 new cases diagnosed per year, 13,000 of those are children. Overall, 16 million people in this country are diabetic, with one in four black women over 55 years inflicted with the disease (Ross, Contra Costa Times, 7/13).