In general, we are not seeing eye to eye with this dreadful disease. It need not be, if we educate ourselves and take of ourselves.

• Our guts are against us
• Our minds are against us
• Food companies are against us
• Have we left anything out?
• YES!  Our friends and families are against us too.

Readers are welcome to reach Dr. Raju directly with their questions on health

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over the course of 32 years, a person’s chance of becoming obese jumps by 57% if he or she has a friend who becomes obese, 40% if siblings become obese, 37% if the spouse does.

• Neighbors had little influence
• Friends and family members of the same sex had more influence than those of the opposite sex.
• Statistically significant effects could be seen even from friends-of-friends
• The same study also found that friends and families who lost weight imparted a similarly powerful influence on people’s odds of losing weight themselves.

Either way, though, the implication is the same:

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

Eye Disease in Diabetes

Eye disease in Diabetes refers to a group of eye problems that people with Diabetes may face as a complication of diabetes leading to severe vision loss or even blindness.

1. Retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels of retina)
2. Cataract (clouding of the lens of the eye) Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.
3. Glaucoma (increase in pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision) A person with diabetes is twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults.

Today, with the advances in technology, new medications and understanding, 90% of people need not be blind. Early screening, diagnosis and management are keys. One in four diabetics may not need medication if they eat right and exercise right.

Look what Susruta of Ancient India said about Diabetes, “It may be prognosticated that an idle man, who indulges in day sleep, or follows sedentary pursuits or is in the habit of taking sweet liquids, or cold and fat making or emollient food, will ere long fall an easy victim to this disease.”

(Dr VK Raju is Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology; West Virginia University. He is the Founder/ Medical Director of The Eye Foundation of America (www.eyefoundationofamerica.org); Chairman, Goutami Eye Institute, AP; Advisor – Indo-US Healthcare Summit; Director, International Ocular Surface Society.

Dr. Raju presides over Monongalia Eye Clinic located at 3140 Collins Ferry Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. He can be reached at vkr@vkraju.com. The phone nos. are:(Clinic) 304-598-0055; (Cell) 304-288-2080; (Home) 304-599-0705; (Fax) 304-598-0058.