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Our eyes should be two of our most prized possessions! That’s why it is shocking to discover that vision care is often overlooked by people. Diabetic eye disease is on the rise. In fact, there has been an increase in eye disease due to diabetes by as much as 89% in the last ten years.

Unfortunately, a good number of people are not aware of the fact that eye problems caused by diabetes often have no visual signs or symptoms. Adding to this unfortunate lack of knowledge is a lack of understanding by many diabetics that an annual comprehensive eye exam is of the utmost importance.

Retina eye exams

A retina eye exam involves a dilation of the eye. Regular retina eye exams are extremely important. Early detection of a progressive eye disease should be the goal. Especially since many of these progressive eye diseases begin without any kind of a warning.

Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, the chances over time of damage to your eyes increases. Certain eye diseases can then begin to develop.

Common Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive damage to the blood vessels at the back of the eye. Diabetic macular edema can follow. This eye disease happens when damaged blood vessels begin to leak fluid which in turn causes swelling. A patient may experience a blurring of their vision, double vision or other eye disturbances.

An alarming 26 million Americans have diabetes. Many of these diagnosed patients will go on to develop DME. Over 50% will not even be aware that they have the disease. African-Americans and Hispanics are a high risk group. Diabetic eye disease is now a leading cause of blindness.

All people with diabetes, type l and type ll, are at risk for developing vision problems. that’s why an annual eye exam is imperative. Your doctor can begin treatment sooner rather than later, reducing the chance of blindness by as much as 95 percent.

Gout is a form of arthritis common among diabetics. Gout and diabetes mellitus are closely related, although they are different medical conditions. Having one condition can increase the risk of developing the other.

Gout and diabetes are often associated with obesity and high blood pressure; both of them may be genetic inherited or caused by metabolic disease. High uric acid levels not simply leads to arthritis, also increases blood sugar levels for developing diabetes. People with gout have a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus.

Researchers found that a lot of risk factors for type 2 diabetes are the same for gout. By changing these risk factors, you can help prevent or fight both diseases. Here’s what you can do:

• A healthier diet. Limit the foods with high purine content; include more fruits and vegetables in the daily diet. Foods can help you with uric acid levels and stabilize the blood sugar.

• Drink water. Drink at least eight glasses of water each day that helps dissolve uric acid crystals.

• Exercise regularly. Regular exercise will help increase blood flow to the limbs, lower your uric acid level and therefore lessen your chance of developing gout. Experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate activity, at least five days a week.

• Lose weight. According to National Institute of Health, a person’s body mass index (BMI) is between 20-24 is normal, over 25 is considered overweight, and greater than 30 is considered obese. The waist size becomes very important if a BMI is over 25. Keep your waist size below 40 inches if you are a man and 35 inches if you are a woman.

• Quit smoking. It will provide you with relief from painful symptoms and improve the blood circulation.

• Skip the alcohol. Eliminate beer or hard liquor will lower the risk of diabetes and cut the risk of developing gout.

Gout and diabetes can also be well controlled with certain medications. You doctor may prescribe generic Actos 30mg or Colchicine 0.6mg to improve the circulation and relieve gout symptoms.

from @valverdeamandaa

Party Girls Rejoice – Research Shows Moderate Drinking linked to Lower Diabetes Risk in Women

Researchers have followed more than 80, 000 women for over 26 years and found that women who ate a diet high in refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, potatoes, and pasta, had a 30 per cent lower risk of developing diabetes compared to women with a similar diet who didn’t partake in moderate drinking.

Refined carbohydrates are commonly known to increase ones chances of developing diabetes; but new research has proven that with women who choose this type of diet but who also tends to drink moderately (about 2 drinks per week) actually have a lower chance of developing diabetes. “If you eat a high carb diet without drinking a moderate amount of alcohol, your risk of developing diabetes is increased by 30 per cent”, stated Dr. Frank Hu who studies nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Diabetes can lead to more serious health condition such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage or even amputations. The new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition doesn’t prove that alcohol protects against diabetes, but rather that drinking alcohol might affect the body’s release of insulin and other substances after a meal, blunting the blood-sugar spikes that promote diabetes.

Although there are some factors that the study did not take into consideration such as what type of alcohol was consumed and when it was consumed; before or after a meal, etc. Though we are not encouraging people who don’t drink to start as a means of diabetes prevention, but it is always good to enjoy a cold bevy a little less guilt free.

So ladies, this weekend, don’t hold back on those couple of drinks; indulge in that glass of wine after a hard days work; After all you are just looking out for your health.