Lions cornerback Alex Carter (far left) met with U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) in Washington last week about diabetes research funding.
Alex Carter wanted to be an advocate for years. It was one of the things he made clear when he entered the NFL three seasons ago. He just didnt know his first big venture into trying to help cure diabetes would come through an email.
Thats exactly what happened to the Detroit Lions cornerback a few weeks ago. The NFLPA reached out looking for players who might be interested to going to Washington to help advocate for the continued funding of diabetes research. Carter saw the email. He reached out to his family.
They told him, Youre ridiculous if you dont do it.
Thats how Carter ended up meeting with staffs for U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Gary Peters (D-Michigan) for about a half-hour each last week. In the meetings, Carter, Indianapolis Colts safety Stefan McClure and members of the American Diabetes Association shared their stories as part of the 2017 Call to Congress Advocacy Day. They explained why the federal government needed to continue funding for diabetes research. They also pushed to help lower the cost of insulin. Carter said there were 40 NFL players advocating for diabetes funding last week.
This has been a personal issue for Carter for years. His sister, Cameron, died of complications from Type 1 diabetes. at age 14. Another sister, Madison, also has Type 1 diabetes. She graduated from college early, Carter said, in part because she knew she would eventually need to afford the insulin that helps keep her alive on her own without their parents insurance. Other family members, Carter said, suffer from Type 2 diabetes.
Cameron died the morning of Feb. 21, 2012, of complications from Type 1 diabetes. Carters mother, Renee, found Cameron lying on the floor in her room. She screamed and Carter came running into the room, thinking they saw a spider. He saw his sister on the floor and thought she had passed out.
Carter hugged his dad. Saw him crying. Then he left to pick up his other sisters from school and didnt know how serious it was even as he went to the hospital.
Me and my sister walked up and they were like, She didnt make it," Carter told ESPN in 2015. I kind of broke down. Ran away. It was pretty tough, just out the door. I couldnt believe it. Started crying. Then I got myself back together and came in.
My parents were like, 'You have two young sisters still; youve got to be a man and youve got to show them you can keep them together still.'
Camerons death caused Carter to rethink his decision to go to Stanford -- but he eventually chose to go. Her death also put diabetes at the forefront of issues he began to learn and care about.
Thats the story Carter told last week in Washington.
They really just wanted all these NFL players to come in and pretty much share their personal testimony of how their families are affected by diabetes and why its so important to continue funding research, Carter said. Thats pretty much the gist of everything. We were just there as players advocating to the government, to Congress, that this means a lot.
So many lives are affected by it. Me personally, Ive already lost somebody in my family because of diabetes and we cant cut funds, pretty much.
The Center for Disease Control estimated last year that more than 29 million Americans have diabetes and 86 million have pre-diabetes, which adds to someones risk of turning into Type 2 diabetes. The CDC says diabetes was the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States in 2013 and more than 20 percent of health care spending is for people with diagnosed diabetes.
The difference between Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is with Type 1, people dont make any (or enough) insulin. In Type 2, peoples bodies either have too little insulin or are unable to use insulin properly. The CDC estimates that 90 to 95 percent of diabetes cases in the United States are Type 2 diabetes.
The cost of insulin, which is used to regulate and treat diabetes, has increased from $231.48 per patient per year in 2002 to $736.09 in 2013, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year. In the same study, the price of insulin per millimeter increased 197 percent.
This is part of what Carter is trying to fight to keep the costs of insulin down while making sure funding to help find a cure for the disease remains.
Its even more personal for Carter because while he does not present any symptoms of diabetes, he knows that because of his family history, he could in the future.
When I spoke to Congress and I spoke to people, I said I was honestly surprised that I dont have it personally, Carter said. Im surprised. But Im also preparing myself for life if that ever does happen, you know.
For now, hes doing what he can to get more involved. He believes there was headway made in both his conversations on Capitol Hill and those of his NFL peers who met with other members of Congress. Carter also spoke to members of the American Diabetes Association on Friday, telling his story.
Before last week, Carter had mostly participated in walks to help raise awareness and funds for diabetes research and awareness. Last week was a larger step for him to become more involved.
Im just seeing what doors open, Carter said. Getting more involved with the ADA, thats definitely a path Im going down. Whatever doors open in that direction, Ill do.
Speaking engagements, getting my voice out there, explaining my passion and my mission.
Original post:
After family tragedy, Lions' Alex Carter fights for diabetes research funding - ESPN (blog)
