“Cha-may weeya”
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Screening Can Save Your Vision
Diabetes can pose a serious threat
to your vision. Diabetic eye disease
refers to eye problems that people with
diabetes may face as a complication
of diabetes.
The leading cause of blindness in
the U.S. is diabetic retinopathy. It’s
caused by changes in the blood vessels
in the back of the eye caused by
elevated blood sugars. These changes
can be the result of the blood vessels
swelling and leaking or new blood
vessels growing on the surface of the
back of the eye that may result in vision
loss or blindness.
How do you know if you might
have this disease? Usually, there’s
nothing in the disease’s early stages that
might tell you that you’re having vision
problems. Your vision may not change
until the problem becomes severe, nor
is there any pain. Your vision may
become blurred and change when
blood starts leaking into the back of
your eye. This is why regular eye
examinations for people with diabetes
are so important.
The longer that your blood sugars
are out of control, the more likely you
are to develop diabetic eye disease.
Both the ADA and IHS recommend that
your target blood sugar should be 90 to
130 fasting, 110 to 150 two or more
hours after a meal, and your target Ale
less than 7 percent
You can’t totally prevent diabetic
eye disease, but you can greatly reduce
its progression and severity by
controlling your blood sugars and
getting an annual dilated eye
examination. An added benefit of
improved blood sugar control in
individuals with type 2 diabetes is the
reduced risk of developing kidney
disorders and nerve damage (especially
in the feet).
So for your sake, the sake of your
family, and for those of us who care
about you, please call to make an
appointment with an ophthalmologist
or optometrist, and keep it. And
don’t forget to make an appointment
with our diabetes educator for help in
understanding and controlling your
blood sugars.
Next issue:
A firsthand look at
the benefits of
exercise
SNetz News
O
Marek 2002
We are starting our popular
100 Mile Club
Walking Program!
A regular walking program provides
many health benefits and is
an exercise just about
everyone can do
We will each work toward walking 100
miles over 16 weeks between
MARCH 1 & JUNE 21, 2002
Well have special rewards
to inspire you!
Contact one of the following staff
members to register and receive your
100 Mile Club Information Packet:
Shannon Mokuahi Rackowski from Fitness
Prescription leads Laura Bremner (behind
Shannon) and Selina Kissinger through
some steps (below), and Liz John practices
her moves (right) during twice-a-week
hula classes at the Siletz Tribal
Community Center. Several tribal
members also are working out at Curves
for Women in Newport (see photos
on page 17). The tribal diabetes
program is sponsoring both activities.
18-. CL
Health
Clinic
Siletz Area: Laura Bremner
541-444-9671
Eugene Area: Miranda Strong
541-484-4234
Salem Area: Rose Kunkel
503-390-9494 .
Portland Area: Joann Brown
503-238-1512
Sponsored by the
Community Health Department
and the Indian Health Service
Diabetes Program