Topic of the Month

So why should we care?

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Macular Degeneration
• Diabetes (Diabetic Retinopathy)

In fact, DIABETES IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS in the United States for those between the ages of 20 and 60!

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot process sugar or carbs properly. This causes blood sugar levels to be higher than normal, which leads to all kinds of health problems.

• In the United States, diabetes affects more than 37 million people today. Another 96 million have prediabetes and are at risk of developing diabetes.
• In 2012, diabetes cost the United States $245 BILLION!
• In 2015, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the country.
• By 2020, one-third of United States healthcare dollars will be spent on diabetes.
• By 2030, nearly half of Americans will have either diabetes or prediabetes.

Imagine the cost in lives and dollars that those numbers predict.

It has become such a problem that doctors are trying to identify those at greatest risk of developing diabetes so that they can try to prevent it. When your blood sugars are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, that is now called prediabetes. It is important to identify this condition because not only are people with prediabetes at higher risk of developing diabetes, they also have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

But what are the risk factors for developing prediabetes? What are the risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes? As you might imagine, the same risk factors that can lead to prediabetes can also lead to type 2 diabetes:

• Overweight
• Over age 45
• Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
• Are physically active less than 3 times per week
• Had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby who weighed over 9 pounds
• Are you African American, Hispanic, or Native American
  

Did you know that you can actually prevent or reverse prediabetes? Did you know that you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes?

Losing weight, eating healthier, and getting regular exercise have been proven to work. The Diabetes Prevention Program did a study to evaluate the health risks of diabetes over 10 years. The results are eye-opening:

• Taking metformin to control diabetes reduces the health risks of diabetes by 17%.
• Diet and exercise reduce the risk by 38%!

Does this mean that you do not need medicine if you have diabetes? Of course not. But it does show how important diet and exercise are in managing diabetes. Talk to your doctor about it.

The Diabetes Prevention Program research group proved it.

1. First, lose weight! Being overweight is a huge risk factor for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. For every 2.2 pounds you gain, your risk of developing diabetes goes up 4.5%. Losing just 7% of your body weight reduces the risk of developing diabetes by 60%!
2. Next, eat healthier. Eat smaller portions. Eat less fat. Consume less sugar. Drink less soda. Use less salt, both in cooking and at the table. Eat more whole grains. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
3. Finally, get physical. Consult with your doctor and begin gradually increasing your physical activity. If you have prediabetes, 100 minutes of exercise each week can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes!
   

• Talk to your doctor
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle
• See your eye doctor every year.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 90% of the vision loss caused by diabetes is preventable by early detection and having yearly dilated eye exams!