Diabetes week in vision
Post on 11th June 2018
It’s an eye-watering statistic that around 200,000 people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes every year.
Today (11 June) is the start of Diabetes Week to raise awareness of this serious health condition which affects a growing number of lives and is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age in the UK.
Research has proved you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes complications, such as damage to your eyes, by controlling your blood pressure, glucose, and blood fat levels, by keeping active, maintaining an ideal body weight and giving up smoking.
People with diabetes are advised to have their eyes tested every year.
It’s so important because around 30% of diabetics will develop diabetic retinopathy, which if left undetected could lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy – damage to the back of the eye (retina) – is treatable, but it has to be picked up first.
Screening appointments mean the signs can be spotted well in advance of symptoms developing.
Of course you don’t need a serious health condition like diabetes to appreciate the value of regular eye tests.
More of us are realising that they do more than simply check whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses. They provide a vital check on the health of the eyes and can detect other health conditions.
So it’s well worth making that sight test appointment if one is due or if you have any concerns about your eye health.
Please call into your nearest Scrivens branch for professional and friendly advice. For more information about diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk