Yes, especially in adult onset diabetes mellitus. The two reasons for this increased prevalence is the fact that high blood sugars affect the health of the lens of the eye, and diabetics are evaluated more often than the rest of the population.

High levels of blood sugar eventually get into the fluid in the eye raising the level of the sugar in the crystalline lens. This will draw water into the lens and the lens will swell. Also, sugar will form alcohol in the lens creating lens opacities, which we call cataracts. The cataract is actually a break down of the protein structure in the lens, and high sugar and alcohol content will increase this phenomenon. The same is true for people who indulge in excess alcohol.

For this reason all diabetics should try to maintain a normal blood sugar. Furthermore, the UV portion of sunlight creates cataracts. Many medications such as steroids accelerate cataract formation. So always ask your pharmacist whether you are taking a photosensitizing medication. The good news is that sunglasses will block sun related cataract formation. Look for sunglasses that block UVA and UVB.

Insurance companies and family practitioners request an annual eye exam for all diabetics. Therefore, it is far more likely that early cataract formation is detected in this group of people. Remember through nutrition and specific supplementation cataracts can be stopped in many cases.

Dr. Abel

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DailyStrength is excited to announce two "must see" webinars from one of our Knowledge Partners, Healthy Humans. Both free webinars will take place on Thursday, October 29, at 1pm EST and 8pm EST respectively.

To register, copy and paste the registration url into your browser. You must register for each event individually.

The mid-day webinar features Dr. Sylver Quevedo, Nephrologist and Diabetes Specialist, and Chris Conway, Expert Nutritionist and Founder of Healthy Humans.

When: Thursday, October 29, 2009 @ 1pm EST
Where: Click HERE to register for the mid-day session

Integrative Medicine and Diabetes: Proven approaches that can help you get better results!

• What is integrative medicine and why does it work so well
• Physiology and psychology: Treating your causes not just your symptoms
• Imagine having top integrative doctors at your finger tips
• Personalizing your health to achieve optimal health
• Live Q&A

Register TODAY!

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The evening webinar will feature Dr. Steve Halbert, Expert in Nutritional and Botanical therapies and Chris Conway, Expert Nutritionist and Founder of Healthy Humans.

When: Thursday, October 29, 2009 @ 8pm EST
Where: Click HERE to register for the evening session

Power of Nutrition: Simplifying a complicated world

• How to eat effectively to stabilize your blood sugar
• What to eat what not to eat
• We’ll tell you what works for YOU based on your lifestyle, schedule, likes and dislikes.
• How to simplify and personalize your diet
• Live Q&A

Register TODAY!

Healthy Humans is an evidence based, doctor-directed portal helping people with chronic health conditions lead healthier lives. By focusing on the underlying physiological and psychological causes of illness, users get extraordinary results. Healthy Humans helps people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol create behavior change that lead to better outcomes! It’s a means of providing ongoing self-management support and continuity.

While this and future webinars will remain free to members of DailyStrength, joining their program may involve some cost. DailyStrength is not compensated by Healthy Humans but we feel strongly about presenting good information to you, our members, and welcome partnerships like this one.

PaulDS