Diabetes stamp celebrated

WASHINGTON – Sen. Susan Collins joined victims of diabetes, members of Congress and representatives of the U.S. Postal Services on Tuesday in celebrating the issuance of the Diabetes Awareness Stamp.

“This stamp will make an important contribution to our efforts to find better treatments, a means of prevention, and ultimate cure for diabetes so that we can ‘stamp out’ this devastating disease,” said Collins, who co-chairs the Senate Diabetes Caucus.

Diabetes affects people of every race, age and nationality, Collins said. “Unfortunately, there currently is no method to prevent or cure diabetes and available treatments have only limited success in controlling the disease.”

The colorful 34-cent stamp dedicated Tuesday displays the words “Know More About Diabetes” and is part of a nationwide Diabetes Awareness campaign organized by the U.S. Postal Service.

“Our hope is that this stamp will help support and educate diabetes education so the warning signs are no longer missed,” said Deborah K. Willhite, senior vice president of public policy and government relations for the Postal Service.

Many of the speakers Tuesday have had experiences with diabetes. Both co-chairs of the House Diabetes Caucus, Reps. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., have children with diabetes.

“I am committed to have found a cure by the time my daughter reaches adulthood,” DeGette said.

Dorian Gregory, an actor who appears on the television show “Charmed” on the WB network, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was a child. He urged Congress to increase awareness and education about the issue.

“I know the impact of the ignorance and misconceptions” due to the lack of understanding, Gregory said. “You have no idea what this disease does to your mind.”

Almost 16 million Americans – 5.9 percent of the total population – suffer from a form of diabetes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, 798,000 new cases are diagnosed. People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing kidney disease or going blind, and are more likely to die of pneumonia or influenza.

Collins co-founded the Senate Diabetes Caucus in 1997 after talking to constituents with children who suffer from diabetes.