KINGSTON – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer made a pledge Monday to combat the nation’s growing diabetes epidemic.

Schumer spoke to health care professionals at Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, and he outlined a plan he’s pursuing with Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, that would increase the federal government’s involvement in combating the disease.

The senator wants the federal government to fund treatment for the early stages of the disease and prevention measures aimed at preventing childhood obesity. Children are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which used to hit adults.

The federal government currently pays for dialysis treatment and treatments for the latter stages of the disease, said Schumer.

“There’s virtually no reimbursement for the early stages,” he said. “We could save a fortune by changing the reimbursement rate.”

Schumer said he would seek more funding for the CDC, which provides programs that promote good nutrition and exercise. Schumer said he also wants pass a provision to update national nutritional standards for food and beverages in school vending machines, food programs and stores.

“I remember a bag of potato chips was a luxury and kind of naughty,” Schumer said, when he was growing up. “There is much less exercise for children. We eat worse and exercise less.”

It’s estimated that 13,000 Ulster County residents, adults and children, are afflicted with diabetes. It was noted at the press conference that health care professionals are seeing more morbidly obese patients, those weighing at least 300-350 pounds, and it’s estimated 57 percent of  all county residents are considered obese.