It’s Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month!

Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Diabetes on November 15, 2019

Elderly man reading about Diabetic Retinopathy

Do you or a loved one have diabetes? Did you know that there is an entire month dedicated to diabetic eye disease awareness? 

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. The goal of the month is to bring awareness to diabetes and how it affects your eyes. Let’s take a look at different eye conditions related to being diabetic and ways to prevent diabetes. 

Eye Conditions

Individuals who are diabetic are more likely to develop eye conditions that cause blindness. Some of these conditions include:

Glaucoma

Individuals with diabetes are two times more likely to develop glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when eye pressure builds up in your eye and damages the optic nerve. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. 

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common condition for older adults, but diabetes can make adults develop it at a younger age. Spikes in blood sugar levels can make cataracts develop between ages 20 – 70. Managing blood sugar levels helps prevent cataracts from developing early on. 

Diabetic Retinopathy

This is the most common diabetic eye disease. This disease impacts the eye’s retina and small blood vessels. For individuals with diabetes, this is the number one cause of vision loss. 

One of the biggest problems diabetics experience is managing their blood sugar levels. Having high blood sugar levels causes damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. 

Managing your diabetes is the best way to keep your eyes healthy. 

Ways to Prevent Diabetes

There are ways for individuals to prevent diabetes from developing. Some of these ways include:

Eating Healthy

This is one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy. Eating a balanced diet is the best way to stay healthy. 

Eating foods rich in fiber can help keep your blood sugar levels under control. Whole grains have been connected to maintaining blood sugar levels as well.

Regular Exercise

Being physically active has so many benefits. It can help lower blood sugar levels, lose weight, and increase sensitivity to insulin. This helps you manage your blood sugar levels. 

Aerobic and resistance training are connected to managing diabetes. You should exercise a minimum of three times per week for at least thirty minutes.  

Having Regular Eye Exams

Going to the eye doctor as often as recommended is important for keeping your eyes healthy when you have diabetes. Eye conditions connected to diabetes can be managed, prevented or detected early on by going to the eye doctor regularly. 

Not Becoming Obese or Overweight

Having diabetes can make it difficult to lose weight. You should work your hardest to prevent yourself from becoming obese or overweight. 

If you are overweight, you should work on losing the weight to keep yourself healthy.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. Not all adults with diabetes are at risk for blindness or vision loss. 

Minorities or ethnicities are less educated about the problems connected with diabetes. This puts them at a higher risk. 

Are you ready to check if your eyes are healthy?

Getting a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to make sure your eyes are healthy. Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR today!


We Are Here For You
The safety of our patients, team members and our community is the highest priority at EyeHealth Northwest. Learn more about measures we are taking to keep you safe and what to expect during your visit.
learn more
Schedule an Appointment
Patient Portal
Pay Bill
contact us
Employment Opportunities
Review Us

Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Westside Surgery Center
13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more
EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center
12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more

Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Surgery Centers

Westside Surgery Center

13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more

EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center

12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more