by Gibson M. DuTerroil
President of The Lighthouse of Houston
November is National Diabetes Month – a period designated to bring awareness to a disease that affects more than 30 million people in the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the devastating health consequences of diabetes is blindness; in fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults.
Lighthouse Diabetes Educator Teri Webb shows client Ramiro Flores how to monitor his blood glucose.
Diabetes self-management education is essential to improving the overall health of a person with diabetes. Patients must learn to eat well, be active, take their medication and regularly monitor their blood sugar.
To a blind person, this can be daunting. Visually impaired people with diabetes face special challenges in managing their disease, but a combination of basic tools and new technology have helped to improve outcomes for these patients. Here are a few examples:
- Portion Control. Managing portions is essential for managing blood glucose levels, but even sighted people have difficulty judging portion size. Training in portion control for the visually impaired includes the use of food models and a variety of bowls, cups and other utensils that they can touch and feel to determine size.
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Gibson M. DuTerroil
Monitoring Blood Glucose. People with diabetes also have to measure their blood glucose regularly. Traditional blood glucose monitors display results on a screen, which is problematic for anyone with severe vision loss. Fortunately, audio blood glucose monitors have been developed that provide verbal instructions to guide a person through the entire testing procedure and give verbal test results.
- Taking Medication. Dealing with syringes and insulin vials can be daunting for a sighted person; for a blind or visually impaired person, it can present a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Insulin pens are now available, allowing the user to hear a click for each unit of insulin that will be delivered from an insulin cartridge. When the right amount is detected, the insulin can be injected.
Learning how to use these tools and an overall education on managing the disease can make a big difference for visually impaired diabetes patients. In the Houston area, they can find help through the nationally recognized diabetes self-management education program at The Lighthouse of Houston, a nonprofit organization offering a wide range of programs to blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages.
For more information on the diabetes self-management education program, call 713-284-8448, or go to www.houstonlighthouse.org.