(This story appeared in VOICE OF THE DIABETIC, Volume 16, No. 2, April 2001, published by the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind.
If you have diabetes type 1 or 2, you are at risk for diabetic eye diseases. These may include diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. The most common of these complications is diabetic retinopathy. Nearly half of all people with diabetes will eventually develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy. A diabetic is also twice as likely to get cataracts, or develop glaucoma, as is a person who does not have diabetes.
Loss of vision in diabetes occurs generally because of damage to the eye's small blood vessels, causing leaking, blockages and abnormal capillary growth all due to high blood sugars of diabetes.
How to avoid eye problems:
Find and treat your diabetes early. Your risk of diabetic retinopathy can be greatly reduced by controlling your blood sugar level, which slows retinopathy's onset and progression. High blood sugar causes damage, and fluctuating blood sugar causes the lens of the eye to swell and shrink, resulting in fluctuating vision and more damage.
If you have diabetes, make it a point to have an eye examination at least once a year. You should have your eyes dilated during the exam so that the eye doctor can check for signs of eye disease. Some eye diseases may progress a long way without symptoms and you wouldn't know you had a problem without an eye exam. It is very important to start treatment before sight becomes seriously damaged.
Bring your blood pressure down. High blood pressure can make eye problems, and other diabetes complications, worse.
Stop smoking.
Eat a healthy balanced diabetic diet.
In bright sunlight, wear sunglasses with UV protection.
Exercise regularly, and keep your weight at a healthy level.
If you have vision problems, get a low vision evaluation. Modern technology can help people with vision loss through magnification, contrast and illumination. There are also many "tactile" devices that work without sight, helping blind individuals achieve and retain their independence.
Video Magnifiers as an aid to Low Vision Diabetics:
One of the items that may be recommended to you if you have low vision is a CCTV or video magnifier. Video magnifiers offer the user an enlarged image of any object (such as a page of small print) the camera is focused on so that a user with low vision can clearly see the details. The magnified image is projected onto a monitor, usually a television screen. It could also be a computer, an LCD screen (as in a laptop computer) or head-mounted glasses. Controls on the video magnifier allow the user to zoom in and out on the item and adjust the contrast.
Current video magnifiers offer full color, black and white and inverse modes. Manufacturers have designed video magnifiers that help low vision individuals to read, write, enjoy hobbies and crafts and retain the ability to stay in the work force.
One of the manufacturers in the forefront of CCTV development is CLARITY SOLUTIONS of Santa Rosa, California, manufacturers of true Auto-Focus CCTVs. In addition to the usual Inline CCTVs, they have developed the innovative CLARITY Flex systems. Most of these have a swiveling camera, which can magnify objects at a distance in addition to those on the desktop. This means students can see teacher and chalkboard, business people can see presentations, and a low vision diabetic person can use it to check their feet and draw up insulin, in addition to the normal reading and writing functions it supports. On a 20" monitor, desktop viewing is 4X-60X and distance viewing is 24X. Only three simple switches allow for ease of use. Clarity Solutions' Capture USB device allows the system to connect to a laptop or a desktop computer.
This modular device can be made portable with a lightweight clamp mount or rolling stand, a battery pack, and lightweight monitors such as a laptop, an LCD screen or head-mounted glasses. Foam padded carry bags are available.
For further information, contact Clarity Solutions at 800-575-1456 or visit their web-site at www.clarityaf.com
For advice on tactile devices that allow blind individuals to independently perform life's activities, contact the National Federation of the Blind; telephone: (410) 659-9314; website: www.nfb.org
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