Archive for the ‘diabetes’ Category
Eye On Diabetes – Austin, Texas
Posted on September 2nd, 2010 by jeffstThe Eye on Diabetes campaign makes its way to Austin, Texas
Posted on August 26th, 2010 by Lisa P.The Eye on Diabetes campaign hits Austin, Texas tomorrow, August 27th. VSP Vision Care is partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the Texas Optometric Association to provide free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings to underserved/underinsured Austin residents with or at-risk of diabetes.
VSP provider Dr. Laura Miller with Northwest Hills Eyecare spoke with FOX7 – KTBC to discuss the connection between eye exams and diabetes and to preview the Austin event.
Eye on Diabetes Day in Kansas
Posted on August 18th, 2010 by Lisa P.Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson declared Friday, July 30, 2010, Eye on Diabetes Day in Kansas. VSP Vision Care partnered with the American Diabetes Association, Kansas State Optometric Association and the Kansas Diabetes Action Council to provide free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings to underserved/underinsured Kansas residents with or at-risk of having diabetes.
Here’s a clip of Governor Parkinson reading the proclamation, local optometrists who volunteered their time, and patients who received the service.
We were able to help over 65 residents receive much-needed eyecare on Eye on Diabetes Day.
#BlogHer10 asks, @VSPVisionCare answers
Posted on August 11th, 2010 by Lisa P.
In honor of #BlogHer10, we asked this year’s attendees on twitter to send us their eyecare questions. We received lots of great questions and wanted to share just a few of them along with the answers. Be sure to follow @VSPVisionCare for more tips and useful information related to eyecare and eyewear.
@CleverGayle – When should children have their first vision test?
– Eyecare experts say children should have their first eye exam when they’re only 6 months old. They should have another one between 2 and 3 years, just before kindergarten, and then annually after that. More on children and eyecare.
@msmorev – I’d like to know the best way to protect my eyes from the computer screen.
– American workers spend 6 hours a day using a computer or digital device so it’s important to take frequent breaks. The next time you’re sitting in front of your computer, remember the 20-20-20 rule: after 20 minutes of computer use, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Check out some more tips on how to keep your eyes safe in a digital world.
@toonces1989 - is it really essential to have your eyes dilated if you’re not having any problems?
– Yes, eyecare experts recommend getting your eyes dilated every year. Dilation allows your eye doctor to make sure your eyes are healthy. During a dilated eye exam, your eye doctor can see the blood vessels in your eyes, which can show signs of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. With age, the pupil becomes smaller, making dilation even more essential. More on the importance of dilation.
Thanks everyone for sending us these great questions. We’ll continue to answer the other questions that were submitted through our Twitter account – @vspvisioncare. So, be sure to follow us and keep the questions coming. We want to know what you’re thinking about when it comes to your eyes!
VSP Eye on Diabetes
Posted on June 23rd, 2010 by Jill NThe VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign is preparing to head to Topeka, Kansas in July – the second stop of our five state campaign.
Check out this video to learn more about the campaign and hear from VSP doctors who are participating in both the charitable outreach as well as the continuing education courses being provided.
And don’t forget to check out the VSP EyeFiles, featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy! In the second video of the series debunking eye health myths, Bill and Dr. Roger Phelps dive deeper into the facts surrounding comprehensive eye exams and if eye doctors can detect signs of serious diseases like diabetes.
Team Type 2 finishes RAAM in 7 days
Posted on June 21st, 2010 by Lisa P.
Team Type 2 officially finished Race Across America (RAAM) in 7 days, 15 hours, and 8 minutes. They began their 3,005-mile journey in Oceanside, California June 12 and crossed the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland June 20, in hopes to inspire others living with diabetes, to achieve their dreams.
All the riders in Team Type 2 participating in RAAM have type 2 diabetes. Team Type 2 rider Rob Coburn said “It’s one thing to control your blood sugar during a day at the office and a daily workout. But it’s really different when it’s 27 degrees at 9,000 feet above sea level three days into a race. It’s hard to explain…I thought the riding would be harder, but the logistics were so much a part of the success.” Team Type 2 is living proof to all patients with diabetes that their disease can be controlled through healthy eating, regular exercise and appropriate medication.
VSP Vision Care is proud to be the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1 and Team Type 2.
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
Team Type 1 Places First at 2010 Race Across America
Posted on June 18th, 2010 by Lisa P.Congratulations to Team Type 1 for competing and placing first at the 2010 Race Across America! The team finished the race in 5 days, 10 hours, and 48 minutes. The team included James Stout, Daniel Schneider, Lonny Knabe, Jeff Bannink, Dustin Folger, Adam Driscoll, Jerry Willis, and Tom Kingery. It is amazing and truly inspirational to see what can be accomplished in 5 days by a team of riders, all with type 1 diabetes and their crew.
The win did not come without some bumps along the way. Rider Jeff Banninck was struck by a car, but was not severely injured and was back on his bike in no time. Another challenge came when rider Adam Driscoll lost a cleat when he tried to pull it out going 23 mph. He not only kept riding, but he increased his speed to around 30 mph – all this with only one cleat intact. The team came to the race to win and nothing else; they accomplished their goal and proved to the world that people with diabetes can do anything with a little hard work and determination.
Here are some words from a few of the riders in Team Type 1 about why they chose this team and what it means to them.
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
Team Type 1 & Team Type 2 on RAAM
Posted on June 16th, 2010 by Lisa P.

Team Type 1's Tom Kingery and Lonny Knabe switch leads on a flood plain outside of Alton, Illinois during Race Across America
Team Type 1 has been averaging 23.5 mph during the Race Across America and crew members suggest the team is, in fact, traveling faster, and may have a chance at beating its own 3,000+ mile record of 5 days, 9 hours and 3 minutes. Team captain Bob Schrank said Kansas was beautiful and they were lucky to have missed a massive storm that hit the night before which caused major flooding. Power was out and lines were down all over western Kansas.
We are moving through Kansas. Now at Yates Center waiting for the transition to the other squad. One of our guys got sick last night so three of us went out about midnight local time and rode about 150 miles. It was a great night. We raced back and forth all night with another team and averaged 20.87 mph for about 35 miles.
We are just over half way through the course. The routine is working itself out and we are all adapting in ways you wouldn’t believe. Our crew is top-notch and essential to making all of this work. A huge thunder storm just went through, glad to still be in the RV. Chances are pretty good we’ll get wet at some point.
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
Team Type 2′s Rob Coburn provides RAAM update
Posted on June 15th, 2010 by Lisa P.
- Rob Coburn, Team Type 2
Guest Blog: Team Type 2 rider Rob Coburn provides an update during Race Across America.
Over a quarter of the race down, and I’m somewhere in Colorado. The Milky Way is an incredible sight at night, and the Monument Valley just after sun up is truly breathtaking.
It’s 4 p.m. mountain time and I’m off to “bed”. We’re on the road for the next 3-plus hours in an RV to meet the squad that’s riding now. Sleep is hard to come by in shifts of approximately three hours in the RV. I’ll be back on the bike around 1:00 am, and there will be more climbing tonight.
We’ve logged 321 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona to Durango, Colorado in the past 24 hours at an average speed of 17.5 miles per hour. This puts a total of 857 miles behind Team Type 2, and we have 2,147 miles still to complete. Fortunately, the climbs and elevation of the Rocky Mountains will be complete soon, which will bring us to the rolling hills of Kansas and Missouri.
The team is really making good use of our Nike sunglasses which have replaceable lenses. I looked up as I was swapping out the dark lenses to the clear lenses for night riding and saw that two of my teammates were doing the same thing.
If you’re anywhere near our route, come out and cheer us on. We’d love to see you!
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
Jerry Willis competes in Race Across America for Team Type 1
Posted on June 13th, 2010 by Melissa W.Jerry Willis is a member of Team Type 1′s Elite Team and is competing in the Race Across America. He’ll be providing exclusive updates for VSP throughout the race. Here’s a video Jerry recorded before the race started. He shares about his dream to compete in this race and why he got involved with Team Type 1.
Good luck this week, Jerry!
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.









































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