H.R. No. 255
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Diabetes is a devastating disease that poses a
    1-2  serious public health problem for many Texans, for more than half a
    1-3  million have been diagnosed with the disease, and half a million
    1-4  more have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, The costs of treating complications that arise from
    1-6  diabetes are high in terms of human suffering, lost income,
    1-7  treatment costs, and costs to the state-supported medical care
    1-8  programs; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, A host of serious complications can arise if the
   1-10  disease is uncontrolled, including amputations, blindness, kidney
   1-11  failure, heart disease, birth defects, and strokes; thankfully,
   1-12  patients can be taught to prevent these complications by adhering
   1-13  to guidelines on diet, weight, exercise, and medical care; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Public health programs in our state are crucial to
   1-15  the dissemination of information about diabetes and the development
   1-16  of diabetes services for all Texans; to this end, the Texas
   1-17  Diabetes Council has completed A Plan to Control Diabetes in Texas
   1-18  for the express purposes of reducing illness from diabetes,
   1-19  educating the public on the problems of the disease, and increasing
   1-20  public support for essential health care services; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, In addition, the American Diabetes Association
   1-22  encourages development of a sound public policy that emphasizes
   1-23  proper education, treatment, and self-management, thus ensuring
   1-24  patients the same great quality of life enjoyed by other Texans;
    2-1  and
    2-2        WHEREAS, It is the express desire of the Texas House of
    2-3  Representatives to raise public awareness of this growing health
    2-4  care problem in our state and to voice care and concern for
    2-5  diabetes patients; now, therefore, be it
    2-6        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    2-7  Legislature hereby designate March 15, 1995, as Diabetes Day in
    2-8  Texas to foster greater understanding of this disease.