Governor Andy Beshear signed a declaration on Nov. 18 proclaiming November to be diabetes awareness month.

Beshear approved the order at the Warren County Health Department in Bowling Green. 

“Diabetes is not a partisan issue, it is a public health epidemic in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “For us it isn’t about our ability to thrive, it’s about our ability to survive as a state.”

Beshear was joined by WKU professor and State Rep. Patti Minter, who sponsored House Bill 95, previously known as BR 53, which capped emergency insulin prices at $30 for a 30 day supply. 

“For far too long, too many Kentuckians with diabetes have struggled to afford the amount and the types [of medicine] that they need, and have been required to make decisions between food and medicine,” Beshear said.

Beshear talked about a Kentucky mother who had lost her leg below the knee because she could not afford her insulin for several years.

“These stories you hear, sadly, they are not only not unique, they are almost common,” Beshear said. “With these companies, it was about their bottom line, not the bottom part of her leg.” 

In attendance was Alex Minter, son of Rep. Minter, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2006. 

“It’s special as a lawmaker because I want to make sure that all Kentuckians with diabetes have access to the life saving insulin that they need,” Minter said. “But today is also special to me as the mother of a son who lives with Type 1 diabetes.”

Alex said managing his Type 1 diabetes is one of the hardest jobs he has ever been tasked with. Many people are undereducated about this disease, Alex said.

“Awareness is so many different things,” Alex said “It’s raising awareness about what diabetes is.”

News reporter Michael Crimmins can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @michael_crimm