Diabetes Awareness

Posted by Invision

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and Tuesday, November 14, is World Diabetes Day

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38 million Americans have diabetes. That’s 1 in 10 people in the U.S.! Possibly even more worrisome, an estimated 96 million adults in the country (1 in 3) have prediabetes

Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the associated medical costs and economic impact of the chronic disease is estimated at well over $300 billion.

One of the most common diabetes-related complications is vision loss. Lighthouse Guild is doing its part to get the word out to address this concerning issue.

“The most important step is to have regular physical exams and comprehensive dilated eye examinations,” says Dr. Laura Sperazza, Director of Low Vision Services at Lighthouse Guild. “Diabetic eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, a serious eye disorder caused by damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye, often have no symptoms in the early stages. By regularly monitoring eye health, treatment can begin as soon as signs of disease appear, helping to prevent vision loss.”

For more information and tips about diabetes for yourself or someone you love, go the Lighthouse Guild’s diabetes resource page.