Posts Tagged ‘Diabetes Awareness Month’

Blue for the cause

BBT

TuDiabetes is a social network for people touched by diabetes. It currently nears 12,000 members, mainly patients and people who have a loved one with diabetes. This World Diabetes Day 2009 at 2 pm local time, they will host The Big Blue Test, a diabetes awareness activity through which thousands of people with diabetes will be testing their blood sugars together, exercise for 14 minutes, test again and share the whole experience. Watch KCRA interview. Read more »

Diabetes and Eye Health

 

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, Dr. Joel Kestenbaum has shared some thoughts regarding diabetes and eyecare. VSP is a proud National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association.  Join the fight. STOP Diabetes.

One of the first lessons I learned in optometry school was that diabetes was a leading cause of  blindness.  We were taught that early diagnosis was the key to preserving good eyesight.  We were also taught that educating our patients about the effects of diabetes on the eye was extremely important.  So here are a few tidbits to think about.

There are many early signs of diabetes, many of which are common eye complaints.   Styes, double vision, light sensitivity, fluctuating vision, glare and frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions are just a few early signs.  These and other signs can also affect people who have had diabetes for a long time.  Getting annual eye examinations by a qualified specialist can detect problems that may be vision threatening.  Early detection can lead to early sight saving treatment. Read more »

Join the fight to STOP DIABETES

Liz is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and as a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), VSP is committed to joining to the fight to STOP DIABETES.

Studies show that diabetes accounts for about 24,000 new cases of vision loss each year.  The most prevalent eye disease in patients with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which blood vessels in the eye leak fluid and cause vision impairments including: blindness, blurred vision, floaters, shadows or missing areas of vision.

It is imperative that people with diabetes have annual eye exams as most diabetes-related blindness can be avoided.

Throughout the month of November, you’ll see multiple posts on the VSPBlog educating about the impacts of diabetes to millions of Americans affected by the disease. Read more »