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Episode 8: Lau ra ’ s story About 26 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, and millions more have undiagnosed and pre-diabetes. This epidemic will bankrupt our healthcare system if more treatments, discoveries and cures are not developed in the coming years. “Laura’s Story” showcases research happening right now at Vanderbilt University that could be a game-changer in the diabetes epidemic. Viewers meet Laura: a young woman living in Nashville, TN, who has battled serious health problems her entire life. At age seven, Laura discovered she had type 1 diabetes and her world was turned upside down. Even though Laura has been committed to living a healthy lifestyle, complications arise and she must make hard decisions to stay alive. “Laura’s Story” gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Vanderbilt’s groundbreaking diabetes research that could one day lead to a cure for diabetes – something for which Laura and hundreds of millions of others are desperate. TRT: 23:34 FEATURING: Vanderbilt University FACTS:
> 26 million children and adults in the United States – 8.3% of the population – have diabetes.
> 7 million Americans have diabetes, but are undiagnosed. > 79 million people in the U.S. are pre-diabetic. Source: American Diabetes Association