Transcript With Open Eyes Presented by: Regina Weitzman, MD www.portufamilia.org 1-800-DIABETES Objetives • Provide a clear and simple definition of diabetes and pre-diabetes • Create awareness about the.

With Open Eyes
Presented by:
Regina Weitzman, MD
www.portufamilia.org
1-800-DIABETES
Objetives
• Provide a clear and simple definition of
diabetes and pre-diabetes
• Create awareness about the link
between diabetes and retinopathy
(eye disease)
• Create awareness about how to
manage diabetes in a simple way that
participants can remember
• Participants will be able to identify 3
simple tests for charting awareness
and managing diabetes
• Participants will be able to identify 3
actions that can be taken to maintain
good general health and good eye
health
• Participants will be given resources to
incorporate into their daily routine to
decrease risk for eye problems
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DIABETES
• When you eat, your body breaks food down
into sugar and sends it into your bloodstream.
• Insulin (made in the pancreas) helps get the
sugar from the blood into the cells to be used
for energy needed for daily life. It’s like the
key that opens the door for the cells.
• Diabetes is when the body does not make
enough insulin or the insulin it makes does not
work well. Too much sugar in the blood can
mean that a person has diabetes.
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What is Pre-Diabetes?
• Pre-diabetes is when a person has too much sugar in their
blood, but not quiet high enough to be called diabetes. (100-125
mg/dl).
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People with pre-diabetes:
– Can make changes to their eating habits to help them lose weight
and increase their physical activity to delay or prevent diabetes.
• Eating healthy is for everyone, but it is especially important for
managing or preventing diabetes. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, what and how much you eat can affect your blood sugar.
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Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
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Excessive thirst
Frequent urination
Excessive hunger
Weight loss
Fatigue
Slow healing cuts or infections
Presistent itching
CHANGES IN VISION
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What are some problems related to
diabetes?
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Heart disease
Stroke
Eye problems (retinopathy).
Kidney problems
(nephropathy).
Wound care
Amputations (neuropathy).
Dental problems
Eye problems
Frequent infections
1-800-DIABETES
ABC’s of Diabetes
• A- is for A1C
• B- is for Blood Pressure
• C- is for Cholesterol
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A-1-C
• The A1C check tells you your average blood
glucose levels for the past 2 to 3 months. Think of
it as a blood check with a “memory”.
• Your A1C target should be less than 7.
• The A1C test provides your health care provider
with a baseline of information on how well your
diabetes is under control
• The A1C test is a good indicator of what is a
normal level for you.
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Which activities can a person do to better
manage their diabetes and lower their A1C?
• Take your medication as instructed
• Monitor my blood glucose more closely and record
all responses to share with your health care provider
• Be more active
• Work with your health care provider to develop a
plan for your diabetes management
• Develop a healthy meal plan
• Lose weight
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Blood Pressure
• Your blood pressure numbers tell
you the force of your blood inside
your blood vessels. When your
pressure is high, your heart has to
work harder.
• Your blood pressure target should
be 130/80
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Blood Pressure
• The target for blood pressure in good
diabetes management is below 130/80.
• Blood pressure has two numbers, the
diastolic (top number) and systolic
(bottom). The top number (130) is the
pressure as the heart beats and pushes
blood into the blood vessels.
• The bottom number (80) is the pressure
when the heart rests between beats and
vessels relax.
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Ways to manage blood pressure
• Follow a meal plan that includes
more fruits and vegetables
• Reduce the amount of salt eaten
• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Take your blood pressure
medication as prescribed
• Work to reduce any stress you
might be experiencing
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Cholesterol
• Your cholesterol numbers tell you
about the amount of fat in your
blood. Once type is called HDL
cholesterol which helps to protect
your heart. Another type, LDL
cholesterol can clog your blood
vessels or lead to hardening of the
arteries.
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What are normal cholesterol levels for people
with diabetes?
• Colesterol LDL – less than
100
• Colesterol HDL – higher
than 40 for men, and higher
than 50 for women
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Ways to manage Cholesterol
• Make wise food choices to reduce the fat in
your diet and choose fewer highcholesterol foods
• Lose weight
• Become more physically active
• Quit smoking
• Keep your blood glucose levels close to
your target
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Diabetes and Eye Care
What is diabetic retinopathy?
The retina is the tissue that lines the back of the eye.
Retinopathy is the damage, or changes in the retina’s
blood vessels, which causes loss of vision.
In some people with retinopathy, their vessels may swell
and leak fluid. In others, fragile new blood vessels grow
because the eye is seeking nourishment that has been
blocked by the damage or leaking. Retinas cannot be
repaired or replaced.
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How does diabetes affect the eyes?
Diabetes allows too much glucose to
remain in the blood, which can
damage blood vessels. The damaged
vessels may drip blood into the tissue
of the eye or the eye might grow new
veins on the retina that create vision
problems or even blindness.
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Who is at risk?
Retinopathy is the leading cause of
blindness in adults today and anyone with
circulation problems, such as those caused
by diabetes is at risk. Hispanics/Latinos are
specially at risk.
Studies show that Hispanics/Latinos with
diabetes have a higher rate of severe vision
threatening retinopathy than other races.
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Who is at risk?
People with diabetes are at risk for
retinopathy. The likelihood and severity of
retinopathy increases with :
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How long you have had diabetes
If diabetes is poorly controlled
Uncontrolled blood pressure
The longer you have diabetes, the more likely
you will lose some or all of your eyesight.
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Prevention and Working with your
Healthcare Provider
People with diabetes who have retinopathy
can reduce their risk of blindness by having
yearly eye exams, good treatment and follow
up care. Taking care of your overall health
works! Research shows that taking care of
your blood pressure and blood glucose
levels can lower the risk for blindness.
Distribute appendix “H” – Questions to ask your Eye
Specialist.
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For more information
Contact the American Diabetes Association at:
1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) or online at:
www.diabetes.org
Locally, call:
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