David Boren promotes diabetes research and treatment center

Tuesday, April 18th 2006, 6:05 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Dozens of people with diabetes, including University of Oklahoma President David Boren, lobby the state Legislature for a proposed diabetes research and treatment center.

Wearing red shirts and stickers urging lawmakers to help stamp out the disease, supporters watched from the state House gallery as Boren, a diabetic, urged state House members Monday to support the plan.

More than 200,000 Oklahomans have diabetes and the state ranked 11th in the nation in its diabetes death rate in 2001-2002.

After addressing the House, Boren joined other supporters in the state Senate gallery during a presentation about the proposed diabetes center.

A measure providing $15-million to start up the world-class facility has been approved by the state Senate and is pending on the House floor.

Boren has said the money would make the state a national leader in diabetes research and treatment.