It’s National Diabetes Month

November 2024

Dear NEHEP Partners,

It’s time to highlight National Diabetes Month! Diabetes, in all its forms, increases the risk of serious eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. That’s why it’s essential for everyone with diabetes to prioritize their eye health, including getting regular eye exams, which are important for early detection and treatment of eye diseases. NEI and NEHEP partners offer a variety of resources to support people with diabetes in your community. Join us in bringing more awareness to the vital connection between diabetes and eye care.

Best regards,

Maria Zacharias

Acting Director, National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP)

National Eye Institute

Share NEI Resources for National Diabetes Month

NEI offers a range of materials that partners can share with people with diabetes to help them protect their eye health. From infographics and videos to social media posts and outreach materials, these resources are designed for easy sharing during National Diabetes Month.

Explore NEI’s Resources

An adult checking their blood sugar at home.

NEI Eye on the Future video contest graphic featuring a cartoon hand tapping a video play button.

Eye on the Future Video Contest Returns January 2025

Starting in January, U.S. high school students can submit videos about science for a chance to win $2,000 and an expense-paid trip to NIH! Stay tuned for updates on the 2025 contest rules, categories, and more.

Learn About the Contest

Cover of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report, “Myopia: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment of an Increasingly Common Disease” with image of a child wearing eyeglasses and touching her face.

Learn about new recommendations on myopia classification and policies

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in collaboration with NEI and NEHEP partner organizations including American Academy of Optometry, American Optometric Association, and Research to Prevent Blindness, has released a new report on myopia control. With rising rates of myopia, the report offers insights and recommendations for protecting children’s vision.

Explore the Full Report

An adult putting a diabetes test strip into a blood glucose meter.

Get Hadley resources to help manage blood sugar with vision loss

Hadley recognizes that living with diabetes often requires adjusting parts of your daily routine, especially when managing blood glucose levels. The Living with Diabetic Retinopathy workshop series is designed to help those with vision loss learn to check their blood sugar and manage diabetes more effectively.

Check Out the Workshops

Share new PSAs from the American Society of Retina Specialists

The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) has released new national television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) in English and Spanish highlighting the critical role retina specialists play in preventing blindness for millions of Americans with retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions.

Access the PSAs

Featured Resource

Learn how to help youth with diabetes protect their eye health

Prevent Blindness has released new Diabetes + Your Eyes: Vision Health in Youth fact sheets, available in English and Spanish. These provide essential information for parents and caregivers on how to help youth with diabetes protect their eye health.

Check Out the Fact Sheets

Calendar of Events

A close-up of a DNA strand with overlaying text, “Frontiers in Ocular Gene Therapy Research Conference. Virtual, Nov. 13 – 14”.

Dive into gene therapy for ocular diseases

On November 13-14, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) will host a virtual conference on Frontiers in Ocular Gene Therapy Research. This is an opportunity to explore advancements in gene therapy for ocular diseases, including the latest clinical applications, gene-editing technologies, and delivery systems.

Other Events and Resources

November 20: Envision University® will conduct Low Vision Grand Rounds on current and interesting cases that involve the team approach to low vision rehabilitation.

Resource: The American Diabetes Association (ADA) offers free eye health continuing education for eye health professionals and primary care providers through the ADA Institute of Learning.  

Resource: The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s short video series celebrates the development of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, which is used to treat diabetic retinopathy.   

Resource: A Hadley Present podcast episode features a conversation with the ADA’s Jessica Grogan on managing blood sugar with vision loss. 

Resource: Prevent Blindness’s video — The ABCs of Diabetes to Protect Your Eye Health — highlights important information about eye health and vision for people with diabetes. 

Resource: The National Alliance for Hispanic Health offers Let’s Prevent Diabetes/Prevengamos la diabetes, an educational program that covers disparities in prediabetes and diabetes among Hispanics/Latinos, as well as tips for healthy lifestyles. 

Resource: The Older Individuals Who Are Blind Technical Assistance Center within the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision offers P ractical Information for Social Workers New to Interacting with Older Adults Experiencing Vision Impairment or Blindness, a self-paced continuing education course for social workers.

The Eye Health Connection is a newsletter developed with the input of NEHEP Partners and shared with the community of NEHEP’s 60+ partner organizations. The links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only, they do not constitute an endorsement by the National Eye Institute or its employees.

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