November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Of the estimated three million Canadians who live with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, more than 500,000 live with diabetic retinopathy – a blinding eye disease that is the leading cause of sight loss in working age Canadians.

“Twenty years following diagnosis, nearly 100% of individuals with Type 1 and 80% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes experience some level of diabetic retinopathy, leading to blindness if left untreated,” explains Doug Earle, President and CEO of Fighting Blindness Canada. “While these numbers are alarming, early detection and timely treatment of this eye disease can reduce the risk of blindness by up to 95%. That’s why it’s absolutely vital that Canadians with diabetes book regular eye exams.”

Currently, 40%  of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes do not get their eyes checked on a regular basis.

For Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2020, Fighting Blindness Canada has three initiatives to help inform and raise awareness of diabetes and vision loss:

• Three live View Point educational webinars on diabetes and vision loss, led by top Canadian eye health experts and patient partners.
• A comprehensive resource page on diabetic retinopathy and a free downloadable diabetes and vision health tip sheet. 
• A way for Canadians to share their experiences living with diabetic retinopathy via Fighting Blindness Canada’s confidential survey.

Click HERE for the full press release.