Care: Latinos with diabetes are more likely to lose sight

Thousands of people in the United States are at risk for vision loss as a result of complications from diabetes . And while all people with diabetes can develop diabetic eye disease, Hispanics / Latinos and the elderly are most at risk of becoming blind from diabetic eye disease.

Currently, diabetes affects nearly 26 million people in the the United States. Furthermore, it is estimated that another 79 million people have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts people at increased risk for diabetes. All people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk for diabetic eye disease, a major cause of vision loss and blindness.

"The longer a person has diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic eye disease , "said Dr. Suber Huang, chairman of the Subcommittee on Diabetic Eye Disease Education Program Eye on Health (NEHEP) of the National Institutes of Health (NEI). "If you have diabetes, be sure to have a complete eye examination through dilated pupils at least once a year.

The diabetic eye disease has no early signs or symptoms, but can be detected and treated in its early stages before there is a noticeable loss of vision . " variants of the disease Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that may develop in people with diabetes as a complication of this disease and includes diabetic retinopathy , cataract and glaucoma .

Diabetic retinopathy, the disease is most common diabetic eye, is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults (20-74 years). According to the NEI, approximately 4.1 million people are diabetic retinopathy and it is anticipated that this number will increase to 7.2 million by 2020.

Early detection Everyone with diabetes should have a complete eye examination with dilated pupils at least once a year to detect vision problems early. In fact, when it detects the loss of vision in its early and treatable through laser surgery time and proper care, people with diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 90% of cases.

Prevention Clinical Research, supported in part by NEI, have shown that m aintain a good control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are essential to slow the development and progression of diabetic eye disease. In addition to comprehensive eye examination, people with diabetes should follow these tips to stay healthy: - Take your medicine - adopt and maintain a healthy weight - Participate in daily physical activity - Check the levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol - do not smoke "Do not lose sight of diabetic eye disease, "added Dr. Huang. "I do not expect to notice a problem in their eyes for an exam because vision lost can not be recovered."