Your Vision and Diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when the disease damages the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, is the leading cause of blindness in the United States among people between 20 and 74 years’ old. The National Eye Institute estimates that between 40 and 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some form of retinopathy.
Since there are often no outward signs or pain associated with the early stages of diabetes, changes in vision such as blurriness, seeing spots or persistent redness can be symptomatic of the disease. For more diabetes management‐related tips, programs and more, visit www.unitedhealthgroup.com/diabetes.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Do you struggle to get your child to eat healthy and stay active? You’re not alone.
The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period. In 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES
Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, including those not-yet-diagnosed, and another 79 million are considered to have prediabetes. UnitedHealthcare offers a range of innovative tools and resources to help individuals, families and communities tip the scales against diabetes,
prediabetes and obesity.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact sheet: national estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States, 2011. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011.