The White House has declared war on diabetes, calling the disease a national emergency as nearly half of all Americans now live with prediabetes or full-blown diabetes.
In a sweeping proclamation marking National Diabetes Month 2025, the administration outlined its battle plan against what has become one of America’s most pervasive chronic health conditions. “During National Diabetes Month, we recognize the millions of Americans living with diabetes and we renew our commitment to building a healthier Nation,” the White House stated in its official message.
A Nation in Crisis
The numbers are staggering. Six in 10 Americans now live with at least one chronic disease, while nearly 40 percent are pre-diabetic and over 10 percent are diabetic, according to White House data. Even more alarming is the crisis facing American youth — close to 30 percent of children and teenagers show signs of pre-diabetes, and over 40 percent are overweight or obese.
Diabetes isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s deadly. The disease dramatically increases one’s risk of heart attack, cancer, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and limb loss, the administration noted in its proclamation. Yet many cases could be prevented entirely.
What’s behind this epidemic? The White House points to a fundamental shift in American lifestyles. “The American diet has shifted dramatically toward ultra-processed food and physical activity has declined,” the administration explained in materials related to its Make America Healthy Again Commission.
From Research to Reality
The administration isn’t just diagnosing the problem — it’s prescribing solutions. Recent scientific breakthroughs include “the first cell therapy for adults with Type 1 diabetes and the first new oral medication for children with Type 2 diabetes in decades,” according to the White House proclamation.
To accelerate such innovations, the administration has secured $4 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, aimed at transforming how we prevent, detect, and treat diabetes and other deadly diseases, officials confirmed.
Perhaps the most immediate impact has been on insulin costs. “During my first term, I took action to lower insulin copays for many seniors to just $35,” the administration reported, adding that an April Executive Order further reduced costs “to as low as $0.03 plus a small administrative fee for low-income patients and the uninsured.”
Starting Young
How do you stop a chronic disease before it starts? The administration is betting heavily on childhood interventions.
New standards for school meals aim to improve nutritional value and give schools the option to require locally produced, unprocessed ingredients, the White House announced. This comes alongside the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, which brought together advocates, healthcare providers, food companies, and government officials at all levels.
“My administration is focusing our efforts where policy and action will make the greatest impact—advancing critical research, driving innovation, and delivering results for diseases that begin in childhood and extend into adulthood, including diabetes,” the administration emphasized.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Tens of millions of Americans have prediabetes and risk developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 years, the White House cautioned. Yet with proper intervention, many cases are preventable.
A Call to Action
In total, the administration has secured over $10 billion in public and private sector commitments to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases like diabetes, according to official statements.
Still, government action alone can’t solve the crisis. The White House is calling on all Americans to take personal responsibility for their health. “This month, I urge citizens to take charge of their health and know their risks,” the administration declared.
“Diabetes is a life-changing disease, but it does not have to control your life,” the White House concluded. “With early detection, healthy choices, and the right care, Americans can live stronger, fuller, and more prosperous lives.”
