Photo by: insearchofbalance
In November, we acknowledge American Diabetes Month and with it, recognize the serious toll the disease can take on the kidney, heart, nerves and eyes. I don’t need to tell you about the seriousness of diabetic eye diseases – I think these numbers speak for themselves:
- 24 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes.
- 4 million Americans 40 and older suffer from diabetic retinopathy.
- 700,000 have serious retinal disease.
- 65,000 Americans will progress to proliferative retinopathy each year.
- 25,000 people go blind from diabetic retinopathy every year.
- 25x more likely to lose your sight from retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts if you have diabetes.
- 15 years after diagnosis, virtually everyone diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 30 develops diabetic retinopathy.
- 5 years after you have had diabetes, you should receive an annual dilated eye exam.
To find out your risk for contracting diabetic eye disease, take this helpful quiz designed by Prevent Blindness America.
Source: Prevent Blindness America
