Despite losing her sight, function in both kidneys, and a brother to diabetes, Pam Fernandes has gone on to become a world-class athlete, winning a gold and silver medal in tandem cycling in the 2000 Paralympic Games and setting both a world and Paralympic record in the process. That is why diabetes is called the silent killer.
Many people have diabetes for years before they are diagnosed.
It is often not until their eyes, nerves, and kidneys fail or they have a heart attack or a stroke that they discover they have been living with this chronic disease. Initiatives like the American Diabetes Alert are crucial in raising awareness of diabetes and its risk factors. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four, Pam Fernandes understands the importance of early detection, testing, and diagnosis. For the nearly six million Americans with undiagnosed diabetes, prompt diagnosis is critical to their current and future well-being. Fernandes lost her sight at age 21 and underwent more than 30 operations due to complications from diabetes.