Diabetes now affects nearly 24 million people in the United States. All people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for diabetic eye …
Dont Lose Sight of Diabetic Eye Disease
Thousands of American adults are at risk of losing their vision
as a result of complications from diabetes
Diabetes now affects nearly 24 million people in the United States In
addition, another 57 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a
condition that puts people at increased risk for diabetes All people with
diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for diabetic eye disease
DED, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness
To reduce the risk of vision loss, the National Eye Institute NEI of the
National Institutes of Health NIH encourages people with diabetes to have
a dilated eye exam at least once a year and recommends the following
behaviors to help people keep their health on TRACK:
Take your medications
Reach and maintain a healthy weight
Add physical activity to your daily routine
Control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol
Kick the smoking habit
DED refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as
a complication of diabetes and includes diabetic retinopathy, cataract,
and
glaucoma Diabetic retinopathy, the most common DED, occurs when diabetes
damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina, the light-sensitive
tissue at the back of the eye A healthy retina is necessary for good
vision If you have diabetes, be sure to have a dilated eye exam at least
once a year, as diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs
Clinical research, supported in part by NEI, has shown that maintaining
good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol is
essential in slowing the development and progression of DED
Dont lose sight of diabetic eye disease If you have diabetes, get a
dilated eye exam at least once a year and keep your health on TRACK
To learn more about diabetic eye disease and what you can do to protect
your vision, please visit NEIs diabetes Website at
wwwneinihgov/diabetes/ NEI conducts and supports research that leads
to sight-saving treatment and plays a key role in reducing visual
impairment NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health, an agency of
the US Department of Health and Human Services
Source:cosharfoundation.org
