The General Assembly has approved legislation designating November as Diabetes Awareness Month in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The General Assembly has approved legislation designating November as Diabetes Awareness Month in Tennessee.
House Bill 363, spearheaded by State Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, aims to recognize individuals with diabetes, bring attention to the condition and educate the public on its symptoms.
“In 2023, my entire life was changed when I found myself in the Intensive Care Unit with dangerously high blood sugar and a diabetes diagnosis,” Reeves said. “Diabetes Awareness Month will provide an opportunity to educate Tennesseans about the condition and help identify those who may be unaware they are diabetic or pre-diabetic.”
Diabetes is a group of chronic metabolic conditions that occurs when the body’s ability to process sugar (glucose) is impaired, resulting in high blood sugar levels. This happens when the body either does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces to move sugar from the blood into the cells.
A 2025 state report reveals more than 812,000 Tennesseans, or 14.6% of the adult population, have diabetes while another 795,000 adults, or 14.3% of the adult population are diagnosed with prediabetes. The report also notes diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the Volunteer State, claiming approximately 2,590 lives in 2022.
Nationally, more than 38 million people have diabetes and among those, 8.7 million or 1 in 5 people don’t know it, according to the 2025 report.
The legislation passed in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly on March 24. It will now head to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Lee Reeves represents District 65 which includes part of Williamson County.
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