JulEYE Awareness Month 2022

by Belinda | Jul 12, 2022 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education

“75% of vision impairment in Australia is preventable.” – (ABS 21/03/2022) Yet every 65 minutes an Australian loses part or all their vision. 

Get your eyes tested this July!

julEYE is The Eye Foundation’s eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year. julEYE has three core aims:

• To raise community awareness of eye health issues.
• To raise funding for research projects into the causes and cures of vision impairment and blindness.
• To support international development projects whose goals are aligned with those of The Foundation.

(Source: Your Health Link, 2021).

The most common causes of vision loss and blindness in Australia are macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.  Many of these conditions are hereditary and can be identified in regular eye checks. (The RANZCO Eye Foundation – www.vision2020australia.org.au )

How often should you get your eyes checked?
According to Vision Australia (2022), regular eye check-ups are recommended for people without eye diseases or specific risk factors every second year with a registered eye care practitioner (optometrist or ophthalmologist).

You may need to get your eyes tested more regularly if you have a health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, history of a stroke, neurological conditions or if you have been diagnosed with an eye condition.

How do I protect my eyes?
Good habits for good eye health.

These are our top tips to maintaining healthy eyesight:

1. Get regular eye tests – At least every 2 years. Most serious eye conditions are more easily and successfully treated if diagnosed early.
2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle – Diets high in anti-oxidants (such as from green leafy vegetables), Omega 3 fatty acids (such as from fish, linseeds), various vitamins (including Vitamins E and C) and minerals (including Zinc and Selenium) can help prevent or slow progression of macular degeneration in some people. Good eating habits combined with exercise help prevent diabetes, which is a significant cause of vision loss in Australia (Vision Australia – 2022)
3. Keep in control of your health issues – blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
4. Follow advice if you are under the care of an eye health professional
5. Prevent digital eyestrain – Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause: eyestrain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance, dry eyes, headaches, neck, back and shoulder pain. Remember to follow the 20/20/20 rule. According to the American Optometric Association, to prevent digital eye strain you should: look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
6. Find out if you’re at risk of eye diseases – Hereditary, family history, lifestyle factors, etc.
7. Wear a hat and sunglasses – Protect your eyes from sun damage and make sure your sunglasses meet Australian Standards (protection from UVA and UVB)
8. Wear eye protection – Wearing the proper eye protection will prevent injuries from activities such as DIY and certain sports or in a dangerous environment.
9. Don’t smoke – Smoking tobacco is directly linked to age-related macular degeneration and many other eye and health problems.
10. Be aware of other health conditions and medications that may affect your eyes.

National Diabetes Week – 10-16 July 2022

by Belinda | Jul 11, 2022 | Health Assessments, Workplace Education

This year, the national diabetes week runs from 10 – 16 July 2022.   This year, the ‘Heads Up on Diabetes’ campaign, Diabetes Australia will be focusing on challenging diabetes related stigma.

 Research conducted by the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), found that four out of five people living with diabetes have experienced stigma at some point.  This National Diabetes Week let’s have a conversation about the real impact diabetes stigma can have on a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing.  (Source : Diabetes Australia 2022.)

What is diabetes?

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), diabetes is a chronic condition marked by high levels of glucose in the blood. It is caused either by the inability of the body to produce insulin (a hormone made by the pancreas to control blood glucose levels) or by the body not being able to use insulin effectively, or both.

Glucose, also known as blood sugar, is the main source of energy for our bodies.  Your blood glucose levels are normally controlled by a hormone called insulin, which converts glucose into energy. Diabetes occurs when the hormone insulin, which assists in the conversion process, is not produced, or is produced to insufficient amounts by the body.  For diabetics, when they eat glucose (such as breads, cereals, fruits and starchy vegetables), it cannot, or it is inadequately converted to energy.

There are 4 types of diabetes:

Type 1 –  Also known as juvenile diabetes, auto-immune diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system is activated to destroy the pancreatic cells, where insulin is produced. It’s unknown what triggers this destruction.

Type 2 – This occurs when the pancreas loses the capacity to produce enough insulin and the body’s cells respond poorly or become resistant to insulin.  They then take in less sugar which causes glucose to build up in the blood.

Type 3 – Gestational diabetes – Potentially reversable

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.

Type 4 – Pre-diabetes – Potentially reversable.

This is when the blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.

Symptoms

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased hunger
• Unexplained weight loss, despite normal eating habits.
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow healing sores
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Frequent and/or recurring infections
• Feeling dizzy
• Itchy skin

Risk Factors

Type 1

• Family history
• Environmental Factors
• The presence of damaging immune system cells (autoantibodies)
• Geography

Type 2

• Being overweight or obese
• Fat distribution. Storing fat mainly in your abdomen
• Physical Inactivity
• Family history.
• Race and ethnicity.
• Abnormal Blood lipid levels. (Low levels of HDL cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides)
• Prediabetes
• Pregnancy-related risks. (Gestational diabetes)
• Polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Areas of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and neck. This condition often indicates insulin resistance.

(Source : Mayo clinic)

When left untreated, diabetes can lead to:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Nerve damage
• Vision problems – Blindness, eye damage
• Limb amputation
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Digestion problems
• Skin conditions
• Infection
• Dental problems

Prevention

Simple lifestyle measures (below) have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Be physically active.  (At least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity on most days. More activity is required for weight control).
• Eat a healthy diet.  (Avoid sugar and saturated fats.)
• Avoid smoking.
• Manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels

(Source : WHO. Int.)