The focus of the campaign for the next couple of years is diabetes education and awareness, and people are doing a lot of activities to get involved. Public spaces and buildings around the world will be lighting themselves with blue light in honor of the occasion. Because education is a critical part of understanding diabetes, many organizations are making it easy for you to participate. You can take the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Risk Assessment, which evaluates your risk and provides tips to lower it. You can also take the Big Blue Test, which helps provide life-saving supplies to people with diabetes. Both of these tests allow you to share with your Facebook friends to help spread the word about diabetes.

Curious about what VSP does for people with diabetes? Because diabetes can be detected through an eye exam, VSP providers are always counseling patients about the connection between eye health and overall health (see our Diabetes Discovery Center). We also have a great campaign that focuses specifically on diabetes–Eye on Diabetes. This year we took the VSP Mobile Eyes on the road to three states and with the help of 23 VSP network doctors, we helped over 2,500 uninsured/underserved adults and children receive free eyecare services. Of those, 89 were directly referred for diabetes risk.

Here’s a brief video from our last 2011 stop in Atlanta, Georgia.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The campaign will continue to four more states in 2012. Stay tuned for dates and locations!

I had no idea how prevalent diabetes had become. So, in honor of American Diabetes Month, I took the free diabetes risk factor test from the American Diabetes Association. I was curious to see what the quick survey said about my risk…especially since I am a “smidge” overweight and have a family history of diabetes. (My mom and grandma have type 2 and my aunt has type 1.)

Now that I’m aware of my risk for developing diabetes, I can make changes to lower my risk. In fact, the ADA even provides a tip sheet at the end of the risk assessment. Take the risk assessment now by visiting the American Diabetes Association on Facebook.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering why I’m writing about diabetes on the VSP Blog, consider this: 90 percent of diabetes-related blindness can be avoided with early detection and treatment. So, make sure you’re getting regular, comprehensive eye exams. To learn more about diabetes and your vision, visit the Diabetes Discovery Center.

Sara W. (Eye on Diabetes, Phoenix)

We saw a lot of patients this week but one in particular who stood out in my mind was Sara W. I asked her why vision was so important to her and she said “reading and my dog, Charlie, are the only forms of entertainment my husband and I have.” Due to physical circumstances, Sara and her family have been displaced and Sara has been struggling to read. She was so thankful to have had her eyes checked by an optometrist and is excited to get her new glasses to be able to read with her husband.

I hope after reading about Sara you’re encouraged to visit your eye doctor to get your annual eye exam so you’ll be able to read with your friends and family for years to come.

See more pictures from the Eye on Diabetes Campaign in Phoenix, Arizona on our Flickr page.

Today is the 23rd annual American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day – which marks not only the Association’s one-day “wake up” call, but also the official start of the “Join the Million Challenge.”

The “Join the Million Challenge” is a four-week challenge – which ends on April 22 -  the challenge aims to rally one million people to help Stop Diabetes® by taking the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and inspiring their friends, family members and colleagues to do the same.  It builds on the success of 2010, the year in which we surpassed our goal of inspiring one million Americans to be part of the American Diabetes Association’s Stop Diabetes movement.

The Diabetes Risk Test asks users to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Risk Test shows users whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with their health care provider.

Take the test today!

Anna Katherine Tollett is the grand-prize winner with her moving video about living with diabetes and educating the viewer with facts about the disease, all in 30 seconds!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rachel Wright is the second place winner who shares her world and how diabetes is a major factor.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Laurie Basloe the third place winner shared a video she made with her class to show how everyone knows someone with diabetes. The kids have friends and family with diabetes but they all have a teacher with diabetes as well.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jessica Hein, member of VSP's Eye Health Management Team

New diabetes numbers were released this week in the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Fact Sheet is a collaborative effort of the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Diabetes Association, and 11 other agencies and organizations.

Some of the noteworthy facts and figures include:

• 25.8 million Americans have diabetes (18.8 million diagnosed, 7.0 million undiagnosed)
• 1.9 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year
• 215,000 Americans under 20 years of age have diagnosed diabetes
• 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes
• 18% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes
• Approximately 5% of Americans with diagnosed diabetes have type 1 diabetes (~940,000)
• Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
• Appropriate eyeglasses can help about 65% of adults with diabetes and poor vision.

VSP is helping fight this epidemic by helping to get people with diabetes the care they need to maintain their sight and quality of life. VSP also launched the Eye on Diabetes Campaign to help promote the connection between eye exams and diabetes. Find out more about diabetes and eye health at VSP’s Diabetes Discovery Center:

If you’re in need of some inspiration, here’s a video from a fellow VSP employee on how diabetes has affected her sister.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out this video from one of our employees as he shares his personal experience with diabetes and why he wants to join the movement.  Help spread the word about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of early detection by sharing this video with your friends and family.

Enter to win: Now until Nov. 30, submit a 30-second video about why you want to help stop diabetes and you can enter to win an Apple®  iPad®. Find out how to enter by visiting the American Diabetes Association’s website.

Click here to view the embedded video.

According to a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they project diabetes numbers to triple to about one in 3 U.S. adults by 2050. Currently, roughly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and one-quarter of them don’t know they have the disease. The study goes on to say diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2007 and is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults under age 75.

Did you know eye exams are the only non-invasive way to view blood vessels to check for signs of diabetes? By looking at these blood vessels, the eye doctor can detect signs of diabetes, hypertension and several other chronic conditions. Eye doctors are in a unique position to change the current trajectory of diabetes in our country based on ease of accessibility, the ability to detect chronic conditions during an eye exam, and the opportunity to influence patients to make behavioral changes to protect their eyesight. VSP Vision Care is encouraging everyone to visit their eye doctor annually to maintain healthy vision and overall wellness. Find a VSP Provider near you to schedule your next appointment. More on the new CDC study. 

Here’s a short video about why I want to help Stop Diabetes. Submit your 30-second video for a chance to win a prize as well as be part of the American Diabetes Association‘s Stop Diabetes public service announcement.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s a video that shares the story of a little girl who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes one year ago.

Click here to view the embedded video.