One of the leading causes of blindness among Canadians is diabetic retinopathy, which affects as many as 749,800 people, yet early detection and treatment can reduce the risk of blindness by 95%, according to the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. To spread awareness during Diabetes Awareness Month, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and Diabetes Canada have partnered to highlight the importance of regular eye care for preventing vision loss among the approximately 11.5 million Canadians who are currently living with diabetes or prediabetes.
“Being diagnosed with any disease already comes with its own host of challenges, let alone losing your eyesight, which can dramatically affect independence and quality of life,” says Dr. Colin Mann, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. “The odds of getting a serious eye disease are higher than you think and, for adults with diabetes in particular, regular eye exams at least once a year are a critical part of complete diabetes care and management.”
The theme of Diabetes Canada’s Diabetes Awareness Month campaign is “Let’s End Diabetes Together” and, during the month of November, will shine a light on the challenges and triumphs of those affected by the disease.
“The driving force behind our annual campaign is to advocate for and bring greater awareness of diabetes, its risk factors and misconceptions,” said Laura Syron, president and CEO of Diabetes Canada. “Now more than ever, we need to awaken the world to the epidemic that diabetes has become.”
Click HERE for the full press release.
