November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. For over a million people this year, diabetic awareness will take on a new significance in their lives. According to the American Diabetes Association, in the United States, about 1.4 million people will receive a diabetes diagnosis this year. 
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It can be a shock to hear that you have diabetes. Diabetes can increase your risk of a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and vision loss. 

Although COPD primarily affects the lungs, it can lead to problems in other areas of the body, such as the heart and kidneys. It may also increase the risk of certain eye and vision problems. 
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) does not get the media or public attention that other diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, receive, but did you know that worldwide COPD is the third leading cause of death according to the World Health Organization? 

The thought of losing your vision is scary. Vision loss can adversely impact all areas of your life and alter your independence. Some causes of vision loss occur suddenly, such as severe injury to the eye. However, many causes of vision loss occur due to certain forms of eye diseases. 

Learning more about vision loss, including its causes, is helpful to implement ways to reduce the risk. 
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Diabetic retinopathy is a type of eye disease that can develop as a complication of diabetes. Over time, if someone with diabetes continues to have blood sugar levels that are too high, it can damage the blood vessels in the retina and eventually lead to vision loss. 

We know that nutrition can play a role in our overall well-being. It seems everywhere you go, there is an ad for some type of supplement or vitamin that promises to help you have more energy, improve digestion, or make you feel younger.

But are certain supplements also beneficial for eye health? Can taking specific vitamins prevent eye diseases? With all the information out there, how do you sort through it?

The article below takes a look at what the research indicates regarding supplements and eye health. 
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