November marks the beginning of the holiday season: holiday themed coffee drinks are coming out, Mariah Carey’s festive classic is playing, and some may already be starting their gift shopping. November is also Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness month and we wanted to bring attention to eye diseases that are associated with diabetes. And since it is the holiday season and perhaps you want to show off some new recipes to family and friends at the dinner table, we will be listing a few healthy and fun recipes as well!
Diabetes and Linked Eye Diseases
Diabetes affects how our body turns food into energy. Normally, food is broken down into sugar and released into the bloodstream. If one has diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces. This results in higher levels of sugar staying in the bloodstream. Diabetes can cause complications to our eye health as well, such as vision loss or blindness.
Some of these diabetic eye diseases are:
Cataracts: Cataracts are a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. Most cataracts develop slowly and don’t disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision. The main symptoms are blurred vision and increased glare.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina and often results in tissue damage and vision loss. The good news is that diabetic retinopathy can be treated most times. There can be severe cases that, even with treatment, can cause vision impairment. Annual eye exams can help detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy and prevent vision loss.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is the eye’s connection with the brain. Having diabetes almost doubles the chance of developing glaucoma. The most common type of glaucoma is associated with elevated eye pressure. Our doctors perform three tests for glaucoma as part of a comprehensive eye exam so everyone, diabetic or not, benefits from yearly testing.
Keeping up with annual eye exams is key for early detection and management. While there currently isn’t a cure for diabetes, staying active, eating healthy, and monitoring your glucose levels can help keep diabetes in check and under control.
Healthy Eating
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or bland so we thought we’d share some of the recipes we came across that can be healthy additions. These are still delicious options with that classic holiday twist. We took inspiration from Bon Appetit, a favorite here at the office.
And of course, dessert!
