Diabetes Stamp Highlights Postal Service's Social Awareness Issues

WASHINGTON It's a devastating disease that kills one American every three minutes This year, the United States Postal Service will help support and encourage diabetes education with the issuance of the Diabetes Awareness commemorative postage stamp. The first day of issuance ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on March 16 at the Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, Mass. The stamp wit be available at post offices nationwide that day. The Postal Service is launching a year﷓long diabetes awareness campaign along with the following: the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Association of Diabetes' Educators (AADE). Diabetes is a chronic, genetically determined, debilitating disease affecting every organ system. Insulin is not a cure, me" life support There are two major types of diabetes: Type I (juvenile) and Type 2 (adult onset)﷓ Anyone at any age can get diabetes, including children﷓ Many people die or suffer life﷓threatening health problems because the warning signs are very often missed or mistaken for something else. There is no cure, but there is hope through research. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, amputation, heart attack, stroke and kidney failure﷓and it accounts for more than $105 billion of annual U.S. health carecosts. One of every four Medicare dollars goes to pay for health care of people with diabetes. Since the mid 1950s, the Postal Service has issued stamps that highlight social awareness issues. Recent social awareness stamps include Breast Cancer Awareness, Organ and Tissue Donation, Prostate Cancer Awareness, Hospice Care and Adoption Illustrated by artist James Steinberg, and designed by Richard Sheaff, the Diabetes stamp includes two elements associated with diabetes testing and research: a microscope and a test tube containing blood. Featuring the phrase, "Know More About Diabetes,'the design conveys the importance of diabetes awareness and early detection of the disease. This is Steinberg's first project for the Postal Service. To see preliminary designs of the 2001 stamps and stationery, visit the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com and dick on News and Events then dick on Philetelic News then open the Nov. 13 news release titled, "Postal Service Annoucnes 2001 U.S. Stamp Program" All current stamps and other philatelic items, as well as a comprehensive philatelic catalog, are available by calling the U.S. Postal Service toll free at 1 800 STAMP-24. A selection of stamps and stamp products are also available in the new Postal Store at www.usps.com.