Managing your diabetes during a pandemic is very important! According to new study, Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology study, the risk from dying from Covid-19 was three times higher for people with diabetes 1 and almost two times higher for diabetes 2 compared to people without diabetes.
Prevention
Following your primary doctor’s care plan for managing diabetes, maintaining healthy blood glucose levels, eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and not smoking are critical lifestyle choices for well-managed diabetes. Also as important are visiting your ophthalmologist or optometrist to detect vision issues early such as diabetic retinopathy. If unchecked and untreated, eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or glaucoma can worsen, resulting in serious consequences such as blindness.
Visiting Your Optometrist’s or Ophthalmologist’s During the Pandemic
Ophthalmologists have devised new office procedures to protect their patients and staff from COVID-19. If you have questions or concerns, give your us a call.
Following the CDC’s Advice on Protecting Yourself and Others from COVID-19
- Wash your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid close contact. Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Mask up. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others. Masks help prevent you from getting or spreading the virus.
- Clean and disinfect. Clean frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
- Get a flu shot. While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19 there are many important benefits, including reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Also, saving healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.
For more helpful eye care and vision care tips, please visit our main blog page
Source: aao.org, thelancet.com, https://www.cdc.gov/
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