By Brandon McKinley
Eric remembers being rushed to the hospital in the summer of 2008.
As the doctors and nurses began diagnosing the problem, Eric thought they seemed to be taking a lot of blood.
A doctor finally asked him, “Mr. Morris, when was the last time you took your insulin?”
He had never taken insulin.
That’s when Eric found out he had type 2 diabetes, a disease he hadn’t ever thought he was at risk for. Over the past 16 years, he’s faced numerous challenges, trying to balance an ever-changing blood sugar to stay healthy while affording insulin among other bills.
“Living with this disease is not easy,” he said. “Even when you have all the medication you need, even when you’re a healthy weight, even when you follow all the guidance, it’s still a crab shoot. I wish I had never gotten it.”
That’s why he is so passionate about the proposed Diabetes Prevention & Obesity Treatment Act becoming Colorado state law. The bill would require private insurance companies in Colorado to cover pre-diabetes and obesity treatment, education and prevention programs, medical nutrition services, certain surgeries, and anti-obesity medications.
Eric explained to legislators how difficult rapidly changing blood sugars are to manage.
Advocating for a healthier future
Eric knows this bill is unlikely to offer him any direct benefits, but he wants future generations to have the resources they need to avoid getting diabetes.
He joined two other community leaders, Jocelyn Miller and Roberta Molock, to testify in support of the bill to the Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Jocelyn and Roberta both live with diabetes and are leaders of Metro Caring’s Diabetes Among Friends classes to help people eat well, monitor blood glucose, be active, and manage stress.
When Roberta was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the doctors told her that her diabetes is genetic.
“This was one of the scariest parts of it because I have three kids and five grandkids,” she said to the Senators during testimony.
Members of our Diabetes Among Friends class visited the State Capitol to testify in support of Diabetes Prevention and Obesity Treatment Act.
She supports the bill because she wants her children to be able to get quality care if they are ever diagnosed with pre-diabetes. Guaranteeing that all insurance companies cover pre-diabetes care would make for a significantly less financial burden on families.
“I really believe that we need this,” Roberta said. “This could help us from being sick. If we could keep our lives healthier, we would work more, play more, pray more, sing more, and laugh more. I want to play, sing, pray, and laugh more with my kids and grandchildren.”
Jocelyn has been an advocate and mentor for teens living with diabetes for 49 years, ever since she was diagnosed with type 1.
“This disease affects all races, demographics and generations,” Jocelyn said. “An early diagnosis can be helpful only if an individual is given the tools to manage their new condition.”
Metro Caring’s Community Organizing and Nutrition teams helped prepare and practice with Eric, Jocelyn, and Roberta for their testimony. The trio of advocates was joined by several other Diabetes Among Friends participants and class facilitators who visited the Capitol to show support for the bill.
As peer leaders in Metro Caring’s Diabetes Among Friends class, Jocelyn and Roberta are passionate about educating folks on how to manage diabetes. “I don't want to be the only person in the world,” Roberta said. “I want mates and friends. I spread knowledge. I don't keep knowledge.”
On the path to becoming law
After dozens of people shared testimonies, the group witnessed the bill successfully pass the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in a 5-3 vote.
“I am so proud that my certified peer-leaders who facilitate the diabetes self-management program at Metro Caring had an integral part in this victory,” said Khadijatu Fofanah-Stevens, wellness program coordinator at Metro Caring. “It’s times like this that I am so honored to work with staff members and community leaders who are so committed in using their talents to empower others to take charge of their health. Collectively, we all want and try to make our state a healthier place for all.”
The bill still has a way to go to become law. It will be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee next before hopefully making its way to the full Senate and then through the House of Representatives.
You can expect to see our community’s leaders engaged in the process the whole time, showing up to the Capitol and speaking with their elected officials to get it passed.
“This lit a fire in me,” Eric said about his experience testifying.
He referred to a quote from the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora! that says, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
“I want to be that giant,” Eric said.
The diabetes prevention bill is one of several that Metro Caring’s community and Board of Directors voted to endorse this legislative session. Follow us on Bluesky for updates or subscribe to our Action Alert emails.
Metro Caring staff and Diabetes Among Friends leaders and participants sat in on the committee hearing to hear testimony and the vote.
