Sen. Hicks wins Senate approval of diabetes screenings

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks has won bipartisan approval from the full Senate for Senate Bill 1427, to ensure parents will have access to Type 1 diabetes (T1D) screening for their children if they so choose. Oklahoma consistently ranks among the worst in the nation for diabetes prevalence, and has one of the highest death rates.

Hicks, the mother of a child with Type 1 diabetes, said while there isn’t a cure for T1D, early-stage detection can lead to better health outcomes by decreasing the risk of life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and treatment that can delay or prevent progression. The problem is families may not know there is an early detection test and access is often inconsistent.

“We can now detect Type 1 diabetes years before symptoms and even delay its onset, but too many Oklahoma families still only find out during a life-threatening crisis – that’s what happened with our son,” said Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. “This bill is about giving parents the choice to know sooner and act earlier.”

SB 1427 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, is the House principal author of the measure.

“Oklahoma is already spending billions treating diabetes after it becomes a crisis,” Hicks said. “This bill is about catching T1D earlier, reducing preventable emergencies, and lowering long-term costs for families and the state.”

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov