Senator Collins Meets with Usher to Discuss Screenings for Type 1 Diabetes

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with musician Usher in Washington to discuss screenings for Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Usher’s son lives with Type 1 diabetes, and he shared his story with Senator Collins while also advocating for improved access to diabetes screening for families to increase early detection. Senator Collins recently introduced the Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act with Senator Jeanne Shaheen to improve early detection and screening for Type 1 diabetes. This bill would direct the CDC to conduct a national public awareness campaign about the signs and symptoms of T1D for both health care providers and the public, as well as the benefits of early detection and screening.  Senator Collins and Usher discussed how screening and early detection can give families the time to plan and prepare for life with the disease and provide opportunities for individuals to participate in clinical trials or consider therapies to delay clinical onset.

“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,” said Senator Collins. “It was a pleasure to talk about the importance 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.”

Senator Collins is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus and has long-led action in the Senate to advance priorities that will lower the costs of insulin, improve treatment and detection, and prioritize diabetes research.

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