Top 5 headlines for National Diabetes Month

Early detection, timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care are the only ways to prevent vision loss from diabetes, according to the National Eye Institute. In recognition of November as National Diabetes Month, read on for five stories to help facilitate early detection and increase awareness.

AOA survey reveals misconceptions about diabetes

More than half of Americans do not know comprehensive eye exams can detect diabetes, and 79% of Americans are unaware that diabetic eye diseases have no visible symptoms, according to the 2016 American Eye-Q Survey by the American Optometric Association.

BLOG: Transforming diabetes care

“If America wants to get a better handle on this disease, more health care resources need to be applied to the equation,” says Scott A. Edmonds, OD, FAAO. “This is where America’s 40,000 optometrists can step up to meet this growing need. To do this, however, optometrists need to do much more than routine eye examinations on patients with diabetes.”

New technology may facilitate early detection of diabetes in the OD practice

Clinicians say a new diagnostic technology is allowing them to more quickly identify patients with diabetes and facilitate comanagement with the general practitioner.

Length of illness affects acceptance of telemedicine in patients with diabetes

SEATTLE – Patients who had diabetes for a longer period of time, those with multiple comorbidities and those with good access to care were found to be less willing to participate in telemedicine, according to a study presented here at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Ferrucci: ODs play important role in diabetes for whole body health, not just vision

BOSTON – Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO, discusses the systemic aspects of diabetes here at Optometry’s Meeting. Ferrucci is chief of optometry at the Sepulveda VA and a professor at the Southern California College of Optometry.