Page 6 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - February, 2018

6

EYE DISEASE 101

It’s important to get an annual eye exam, sss
prevent complications of diabetes eye disease
CONTACT US
n Take all of your
Diabetic eye disease medications. Call the Chehalis Tribal
The effect of diabetes on n Visit your eye doctor at Wellness Center at 360-
your eyes is referred to as least every year. 273-5504 to schedule
diabetic eye disease. an appointment. For
Early on, diabetes can cause Other eye problems questions, contact
the inside of your eyes to bleed If there are a lot of new Licensed Practical Nurse
in small areas. Later, new blood vessels, they might Sandra Dickenson at 360-
blood vessels can form and cause scarring inside the Available treatments 709-1660. Sandra can help
cause more bleeding. If this eye, resulting in retinal For diabetic eye disease, you set up a diabetes eye
process continues, it can cause detachments, which is laser treatment is the current exam. Diabetic patients
blindness. another cause of permanent treatment of choice. that get a referral and go to
The bleeding can become so vision loss. Injections of newer their appointment will get
bad that the inside of your eye Diabetes makes you more anti-vascular-proliferative a prize!
can become filled with blood. likely to develop all forms of medications might become
If this happens, the chance of glaucoma. more common in the future.
losing some amount of vision In some cases, new blood n Cataracts are commonly appointments to see their
is high. treated with cataract surgery. health care provider. The
The most important thing vessels might grow on the n Glaucoma requires the appointment is generally 60-
to remember is to visit your surface of the iris (the brown- use of antiglaucoma eye drops. 90 minutes. Your provider will
medical doctor every three colored part of your eye), complete labs, check your feet,
months and follow your causing neovascular glaucoma, If you are diabetic review medicines, perform
medical plan! a particularly severe form of The Chehalis Tribal an EKG (annually), review
That involves taking your glaucoma. Wellness Center offers your last dental appointment
medicines every day exactly as Sometimes uncontrolled monthly diabetes clinics. (annually), discuss nutrition
prescribed, controlling your blood sugar levels can cause On this date, we encourage and make a referral for you to
diet, checking blood sugar changes in your vision or cause all diabetes patients to make get a diabetic eye exam.
daily and might include daily cataracts.
exercise as recommended by Diabetic cataracts make it
your doctor. very hard to see clearly and
The second most important cause vision to become hazy. GET FIT FOR FREE
thing you can do for your eyes What are the symptoms?
is to see your eye doctor at Trainer Rikki Sutterlict is offering
least every year for a dilated Often there are no
retinal examination. symptoms until diabetes group strength training and
This test will detect already has done a lot of conditioning classes Monday-Friday
whether you have diabetes in damage to your eyes.
your eyes. Your doctor might You might experience times
recommend more frequent of clear vision and times of * Classes are
visits if you show signs of the blurry vision due to rapid dependent on sign-ups
disease. shifts in blood sugar levels. Weekly
Your doctor also might You can have diabetes in schedule and requested times
recommend treatment for your eyes without having any 6-7 a.m.
your diabetic eye disease or symptoms. 7-8 a.m. * To participate
diabetes-related eye diseases Many people with severe 3-4 p.m. in a class,
such as glaucoma or diabetic diabetic eye disease do not 4-5 p.m. everyone
cataracts. realize they have a vision 5-6 p.m. must sign
a release
Lower your risk problem until it is too late
and permanent damage has
If you do the following occurred.
things, the chances of n If you have cataract, * Tuesday at CONTACT:
developing serious eye vision might become blurry or 4 p.m. is for
problems because of diabetes hazy. ages 11 and older Rikki Sutterlict
mellitus are lowered: n If you have glaucoma, and Thursday at at rsutterlict@
n Control your weight. you might not experience any 4 p.m. is for ages gmail.com or
n Eat a proper diet. symptoms until a significant 10 and younger 360-464-0664
n Regularly monitor your loss of vision has already
blood sugar at home. occurred.