More than 250,000 petitions have been sent to President Clinton urging him to increase federal funding of diabetes research. The Palama family joined 300 other volunteers from around the country to hand-deliver letters that support the Campaign to me and all of my colleagues in Congress. Unfortunately, they are not alone. Diabetes, the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, can lead to blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and even death. Every year more than 182,000 people fall victim to this deadly disease that afflicts almost 16 million Americans.
Some people suffer the negative effects of diabetes years or even decades before they are diagnosed.
Unfortunately, when this happens, it is often too late to prevent irreparable damage to arteries, eyes, nerves, and kidneys. That is why early detection and recognizing the obvious signs of diabetes are vitally important. If you or a family member suffer from extreme thirst, frequent urination or unexplained weight loss, you may have one of the first warning signs of diabetes and should notify your doctor immediately. While there is no cure for diabetes, early detection can reduce complications and save lives. Diabetes causes problems not only for millions of Americans, but also our country as a whole.