Information:
Leslie Gottlieb
212-821-9760
For Release:
March 25, 2008
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20 to 74 years old in the U.S.
March 25, 2008... Lighthouse International, the 103 year-old leader in vision health care, opens a new Diabetes Center today to help people with diabetes effectively manage the disease and assist those who have (or are at risk of having) diabetic retinopathy, a serious eye disease that can cause blindness. The official opening of the Center coincides with a Diabetes Alert Day health fair and screenings sponsored by Lighthouse International and the American Diabetes Association.
According to Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, President and CEO of Lighthouse International, "We established this Center in response to two epidemics in our country -- the diabetes epidemic and the vision loss epidemic. Both epidemics affect millions of people and both require that healthcare institutions and patients be proactive, vigilant and holistic in their approach to the disease and its ramifications. If you control the disease you can prevent vision loss. For those who have diabetes our new Center will educate and empower patients to take steps to manage the disease and prevent serious vision-related complications."
According to the American Diabetes Association, 700,000 adults in New York City have diabetes, another 250,000 have diabetes and don't know it. Four million people in New York State have prediabetes. Furthermore, diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year in the United States.
The new Diabetes Center, located at Lighthouse International headquarters at 111 East 59th Street in New York City, will have a certified diabetes educator who will teach patients about the importance of nutrition, how to manage medications, monitor blood glucose, detect complications and adapt to life with diabetes-related vision loss. The Center will also have a podiatrist to address diabetes-related foot problems. The Center will be integrated into Lighthouse International's comprehensive services for people of all ages with impaired vision, which include low vision exams, vision rehabilitation, occupational therapy and mental health. The Center's comprehensive approach, treating all aspects of disease, will enable patients to remain productive and independent.
According to the director of the new Center, Noreen Brennan, PhD(c), RN, BC, CAN, Vice President of Clinical Services, "Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes and needs special attention. Lighthouse International's expertise and leadership in vision health care positions us to address this growing health crisis for New Yorkers."
The Diabetes Center at Lighthouse International is supported by grants from The New York Community Trust and the Allene Reuss Memorial Trust. To make an appointment, call 212-821-9625.
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed health care services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Through services, education, research and advocacy, the Lighthouse enables people with low vision and blindness to enjoy safe, independent and productive lives. For more information about vision loss, its causes and what you can do about it, contact Lighthouse International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.lighthouse.org.
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