Category Archives: Diabetes

Cataracts, Computer Vision Syndrome, Diabetes, Dry Eye, Eye Disease & Problems, Eye Exam Information, Eye Health, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration

Eye exams and why they are important

Annual eye exams can detect serious health problems.

Did you know that many people first learn they have serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer from — yes, you guessed it — a routine eye exam.

Our eyes have been called “the window to our soul.” It turns out, they also are often a very effective window to our overall health.

During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor can observe and evaluate the health and condition of the blood vessels in your retina, which are a good predictor of the health of blood vessels throughout your body. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia all are visible by changes in the appearance of the retinal blood supply and blood vessels.

Annual eye exams are especially important for anyone with diabetes or who might be at risk for the disease (due to obesity, family history or other reasons). More than 30 million Americans with diabetes and another 84 million who have prediabetes are at risk for developing diabetic eye disease, the leading cause of blindness among adults. In its early stages, diabetic eye disease has no visible symptoms; only a comprehensive eye exam can detect signs of the disease so treatment can begin soon enough to prevent vision loss.

Also, research is advancing to develop an eye test to identify your risk for Alzheimer’s disease that may soon be performed during a comprehensive eye exam.

Don’t put it off — schedule an eye exam today

Even if you think you have perfect vision, an annual eye exam can be one of the best things you can do to protect the overall health and wellness of you and your loved ones.

Don’t put if off any longer — contact us for an eye exam today.

Diabetes

Weight Lifting May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk In Men.

Bloomberg News (8/7, Ostrow) reports, “Lifting weights 30 minutes a day, five times a week, may reduce a man’s chance of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 34 percent, and when combined with aerobic exercise like brisk walking or running, cuts the risk as much as 59 percent.”

“Even a small amount of weight training helped,” HealthDay  (8/7, Dallas) reports. “Men who lifted weights for just up to 59 minutes a week reduced their risk for diabetes by 12 percent.”

 (8/7, Fiore), the study “was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.” Also covering the story are Medscape  (8/7, Brown), BBC News  (8/7), and Reuters 8/7, Joelving).
Diabetes, Eye Disease & Problems

Is the eye the mirror to the heart ?

The University of Edinburgh is conducting a study to determine whether scanning blood vessels in the eyes can help detect heart disease

The researchers will use high def eye scans of  patients suspected of having heart disease. They will look for signs like changes in blood vessel width or suspicious branching, which may be linked to heart disease. Developing this type of method could avoid the need for invasive procedures such as biopsies and angiograms.

 

Diabetes

Exercise May Result In Epigenetic Modifications To DNA and Regulate Insulin Levels

The CBS News  “HealthPop” blog reported, “A new study in the March issue of Cell Metabolism shows that that when people exercise for something as little as a 20 minute workout, it can alter their DNA almost immediately.” Investigators “concluded that…’epigenetic modifications’ seem to be the early precursor to the genetic reprogramming of muscle for strength, structure and the metabolic benefits of exercise.”

According to a study  published in the journal Diabetes Care, taking a walking break every twenty minutes, rather than prolonged sitting, could help regulate the body’s glucose and insulin levels after meals. This would prevent large spikes in blood sugar and insulin that are linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Diabetes, Eye Exam Information, Glaucoma

Eyes Reflect Overall Health

A comprehensive eye exam looks at many facets of” both eye and overall health. The eyes “hold clues to other events in the body, and the condition of the body affects the eyes. This is important, because some conditions, particularly circulatory issues” and diabetes, may seriously affect vision and the eyes themselves. Often, early signs these diseases will first show up in the eyes. An annual comprehensive eye exam is one of the best early detection methods available. If you want to save money, save it by skipping a dining excursion out on the town, but don’t neglect your eye health.

Fine Eyewear & Eyecare is a full service eye care facility specializing in Glaucoma management and early detection of Glaucoma and other systemic problems. Our eye care facility is staffed by an eye doctor and we’re are near Avery Ranch in the 78717 zip code. We’re located in the Heb shopping center at Parmer and 1431.  You can find more information at www.FineEyewear.Net