House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn is calling for diabetic African Americans to get their eyes checked. As part of Black History Month, Clyburn is raising this issue because African Americans are at a higher risk for the disease and its complications. You can check out his public service announcement here.
It is important for people with diabetes to get their eyes checked regularly for several reasons. First, blindness is one of the more severe complications of the disease and visiting a doctor regularly can help prevent that. Additionally, doctors can often gauge the overall progression of the disease by examining the eyes.
“Diabetes is an epidemic in the African American community,” Clyburn says. “People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to go blind and African Americans with diabetes are at an even higher risk – almost 50% more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes, it’s critically important for you to receive an annual diabetic eye exam, because it will help detect and prevent eye disease.”
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