Brevard Medical Equipment wants you to be as healthy and possible at every age and despite health problems. November is National Diabetes Month and we are talking about the diabetes-related eye and vision issues that can affect the over 21 million people in the United States have diabetes and the 6 million who don’t even know they have the disease.

Last time we talked about diabetic retinopathy.  Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetes-related eye disease and can lead to a host of vision problems including blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common, but not the only disease that is a concern of people with diabetes.

It’s not just people with diabetes that get most of these eye diseases, but having diabetes, and especially unmanaged diabetes, increases the likelihood of having many of these vision problems.

People with diabetes are also more likely to developing cataracts.  Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s lens and occur at younger ages for people with diabetes at an earlier age.

Another common eye disease that is also prevalent in people with diabetes is glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye disorder that damages the optic nerve by causing an increase of internal eye pressure. People with diabetes are almost 50 percent more likely to develop glaucoma.

Macular edema and macular degeneration are due to the malfunctioning of blood vessels inside the middle region of the retina called the macula. The macula is responsible for central, sharp vision. Macular edema and macular degeneration are also more common in people with diabetes.

Being aware of these various eye diseases is important for everyone, be even more so for people with diabetes. Diabetes isn’t just about avoiding sugar; it’s a whole lifestyle shift and careful management of your body’s insulin levels. Proper management of your diabetes includes exercise, diet, not smoking and so much more.

Brevard Medical Equipment wants you to be happy and healthy and to live life to the fullest. Ask us about our exercise products and skin creams to promote good health.