According to the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP), about 10% of the U.S. population has diabetes and at least 1 in 3 are pre-diabetic. The rates of diagnosed diabetes in adults by race/ethnic background are:
- 7.5% of non-Hispanic whites
- 9.2% of Asian Americans
- 12.5% of Hispanics
- 11.7% of non-Hispanic blacks
- 14.7% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives
(Source: American Diabetes Association)
Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults (National Institutes of Health). Several factors influence whether you get diabetic retinopathy:
- blood sugar control
- blood pressure levels
- how long you have had diabetes
- genes
Managing your diabetes can impact the health of your eyes and improve your quality of life.
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired will host a webinar titled, “Managing Diabetes in a Busy Life” on November 10 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. It will be led by diabetes care and education specialist Dr. Dawn Davis who will discuss a lifestyle approach that includes healthy eating, being active, monitoring, problem solving, reducing risks and healthy coping.
This education event is sponsored by Industries for the Blind & Visually Impaired (IBVI).
View the recorded the webinar.
Resources:
News You Can Use: Stay on Track with Your Diabetes
Learn more about how to stay on TRACK of diabetes with this helpful handout:
