To protect the vision of those living with diabetes and to bring awareness to the importance of guarding your vision, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recognizes observances dedicated to raising the awareness of issues affecting eye health. November has been designated as Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Diabetes is “the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should; this causes sugars to build up in your blood.” The CDC reports that 29 million American are currently living with the disease, and thousands more are diagnosed annually.
Diabetes causes complications that have been linked to a number of serious diseases including heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Diabetes causes a number of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, diabetic macular edema and cataracts; all of which can lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among diabetics and a leading cause of blindness in adults. The early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually have no symptoms, so the disease goes unnoticed until vision loss occurs. Because diabetic retinopathy often goes unnoticed until vision loss occurs, people with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Women who have diabetes or develop diabetes during pregnancy may experience rapid onset or worsening of diabetic retinopathy. The complications of diabetes that lead to vision loss can be prevented by practicing good self-care and blood sugar control. Taking medications as prescribed, getting plenty of exercise and eating a healthy diet can delay or prevent diabetes complications and protect your vision.
Alpine Eye Care is Northern Michigan’s leading eye care center. We provide complete eye care for the whole family, including eye exams, fashionable vision correction, cataract surgery and treatment of eye diseases. We provide state-of-the-art cataract surgery, performed at you’re the hospital of your choice by one of Central Northern Michigan’s only two board-certified eye surgeons. We perform safe, convenient laser treatment in our office for glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration. If you or someone you love is facing vision loss from diabetes or other health conditions, or you need modern, gentle eye care for your family, trust Alpine Eye Care. Call 1.877.733.2020 or schedule an appointment to learn more about our services. Let Alpine Eye Care be your partner in better vision for every member of your family.