Today is World Diabetes Day. Each year on November 14, the International Diabetes Federation engages millions of people around the world in hopes to draw attention to diabetes. World Diabetes Days falls in American Diabetes Month, which we wrote about last week, but reaches more than 160 countries worldwide.
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.
The campaign will continue to four more states in 2012. Stay tuned for dates and locations!
An Atlanta-area senior is fitted for a free pair of glasses
More than 500 low-income, uninsured and underinsured Atlanta seniors received free health services, including comprehensive eye exams, diabetes screenings and high blood pressure screenings on August 5-6 as part of the VSP Vision Care Eye on Diabetes campaign. This was the largest event to date.
VSP partnered with the Georgia Optometric Association, Medicare Diabetes Screening Project (MDSP) and Atlanta Regional Commission to bring two mobile eye clinics, Eyenstein and Seezar, outfitted with state-of-the-art exam rooms, dispensaries and a finishing lab to provide services to those who have or are at risk for diabetes. The campaign focus is to increase awareness and understanding of the connection between eyecare and a person’s general health.
Unique to this event, all qualified Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes were enrolled in a 16-session lifestyle intervention class that has proven to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. A program provided through MDSP, the enrollees will have access to a trained lifestyle coach to help them change their habits. Enrollees will learn about healthier eating, simple ways to increase physical activity and other changes that lead to a healthier lifestyle.
“The goal of the VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of eyecare and the role of optometry in detecting and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes,” said Cheryl Johnson, Vice President of Provider Services, VSP Vision Care. “Partnering with these great local organizations is critical to helping a community seek greater knowledge and understanding of how to incorporate positive preventative care behaviors, such as annual eye exams, into their lives.”
Also, in recognition of the campaign, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal proclaimed August 5-6 “Eye on Diabetes Days in Georgia!” It is estimated that 707,000 Georgia residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, with more than 51,000 newly diagnosed cases of adult diabetes every year.
The Eye on Diabetes campaign will finish this year’s tour in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in September.
The 2011 Eye on Diabetes Campaign kicks off the four-state tour in Phoenix, Arizona this week. In partnership with the Arizona Optometric Association, Phoenix Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and VSP network doctors, we were able to provide free eye exams, glasses and diabetes screenings to the underserved in Phoenix. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer showed her support for this cause by declaring the week of March 31 “Eye on Diabetes Week in Arizona” with a signed proclamation.
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.
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:
VSP’s Eye on Diabetes Campaign makes its way to the Raphael Health Center in Indianapolis today, the last stop of the year in the 5-city tour. In partnership with the American Diabetes Association- Indiana Chapter, the Indiana Optometric Association, and VSP provider Dr. Kimberly Forniss, non-insured Indianapolis residents will have access to free eye exams, eyewear and diabetes screening on board VSP’s Mobile Eye Clinic SeeZar.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard showed their support by declaring Friday, November 5 “Eye on Diabetes Day” in Indiana with a signed proclamation. Jen Pittman with the Mayor’s office attended the press conference this morning to read the proclamation along with representatives from our partnering agencies. Special guests Liz Hall and Mark Killgo also came out to share their personal story about how diabetes affects their vision. Liz has had 17 eye surgeries and was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of seven. Mark was completely blind from the disease a few years ago but after undergoing many eye surgeries, has regained some vision and is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. With 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes and 57 million more at risk of the disease, both stories are true testaments to the importance of early detection.
Representatives from VSP's partnering agencies: American Diabetes Association, Indiana Optometric Association, and the UI School of Optometry
VSP Provider Dr. Kimberly Forniss with a patient on board SeeZar
In partnership with the American Diabetes Association, VSP’s Eye on Diabetes campaign traveled to Denver, Colorado on Monday, September 12 to provide free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings to over 100 uninsured residents. The VSP Mobile Eyes team brought their 45-foot mobile eye clinic SeeLia to the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center in downtown Denver, who generously hosted the outreach event in their parking lot.
VSP providers Dr. Deanna Alexander with Eyecare Associates and Dr. John Schachet with Eyecare Consultants took time out of their day to support the efforts of the Eye on Diabetes campaign.
Marathon runner and Denver resident Kerry Kuck came out to show his support for the campaign and the importance of eyecare in detecting signs of diabetes. Kerry has Type 1 diabetes and is now completely blind from the disease. He is the only blind marathon runner with Type 1 diabetes who completed the Boston Marathon, which he accomplished this spring. He truly is an inspiration to everyone on how anything can be achieved with some hard work and dedication.
The VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign has wrapped up another successful event in Austin, TX on Friday August 27, 2010. VSP Vision Care has partnered with the American Diabetes Association and the Texas Optometric Association to raise awareness for the connection between eye health and diabetes for the state of Texas. SeeZar, one of three VSP Mobile Clinics, helped over 100 Austin residents in need with free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings. State Representative Mark Strama showed his support for the campaign and the important role Optometrists play in the detection and treatment of health issues, including diabetes. The Austin event was the third stop in the Eye on Diabetes campaign, reaching a statewide audience.
Below is a photo of VSP Provider Dr. Everett Hyman from Houstin, TX volunteering his time to help out during the Eye on Diabetes campaign in Austin. To see more photos of the event, click here.
The Eye on Diabetes campaign hits Austin, Texas tomorrow, August 27th. VSP Vision Care is partnering with the American Diabetes Association and the Texas Optometric Association to provide free eyecare, eyewear and diabetes screenings to underserved/underinsured Austin residents with or at-risk of diabetes.
VSP provider Dr. Laura Miller with Northwest Hills Eyecare spoke with FOX7 – KTBC to discuss the connection between eye exams and diabetes and to preview the Austin event.
Jill N. is a member of the VSP Global Public Relations team.
Recently VSP announced the launch of VSP Eye on Diabetes, a five state campaign created in response to the increasing spread of diabetes across the U.S. A lot of people (did you know?) are unaware that diabetes can be detected through an annual eye exam, sometimes as much as five years earlier than through a Fasting Blood Glucose (Blood Sugar) test!
It’s been found that 61% of Americans with vision coverage go in for their annual eye exams vs. just 21% who get an annual physical! This provides an opportunity for optometrists to be the first to detect a variety of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, in a patient. With new information pertaining to diabetes continuing to be introduced, it is important to realize that your VSP private practice eye doctor is being provided the most recent information available pertaining to diabetes and eyecare and is a key component to a patients diabetes-care team. You can find more information at the VSP Diabetes Discovery Center.
Check out the video of the day of outreach in Little Rock, narrated by the Mayor of Little Rock, Mark Stodola.
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Today is World Diabetes Day. Each year on November 14, the International Diabetes Federation engages millions of people around the world in hopes to draw attention to diabetes. World Diabetes Days falls in American Diabetes Month, which we wrote about last week, but reaches more than 160 countries worldwide.
