Robert Pearlman, CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, says AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades unions provide millions of dollars in critical support for diabetes research.

[Pearlman]: "They've donated over $40 million through the years."

Pearlman recently met with union political lobbyists to try to deal with cuts in government funding for diabetes research.

[Pearlman]: "To see if we could help forestall the cuts of some of that funding."