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Come see how affordable QUALITY eye care can be !
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SALEMestablished 1983
304-782-1005
304-782-3303 (fax)
Drs. Audia & Wickline59 Water St.Salem, WV 26426Monday 9 5 Tuesday 9 7 Wednesday 9 5 Thursday 9 5 Friday 9 5 Saturday 9 1 HARRISVILLEestablished 1998
304-643-2117
304-643-2116 (fax)
Drs. Audia & Wickline
1403 E. Pearl St.
Harrisville, WV 26362
Monday 9 - 4 Tuesday 9 - 4 ** Wednesday 9 - 6 Thursday 9 - 4 ** Friday 9 - 4 ** Office open but no planned patient care Harrisville Info or |
WHAT IS DCCT?
The
Diabetes Complication Control Trial (DCCT) was a long range clinical study
conducted by the National Institutes of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease.
The study showed that keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as
possible slowed the onset and severity of eye, kidney and nerve disease caused
by diabetes. In fact, it demonstrated that any sustained lowering of blood sugar
helps, even if the person has a history of poor control. The largest, most
comprehensive diabetes study ever conducted, the DCCT involved 1,441 volunteers
with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 29 medical centers in the
United States and Canada. Volunteers had diabetes for at least 1 year but no
longer than I0 years. They also were required to have no, or only early signs
of, diabetic eye disease. The study compared the effects of two treatment
regimens-standard therapy and intensive control in the complications of
diabetes.
DCCT & The Eye All DCCT participants were monitored for diabetic retinopathy, an eye, disease that affects the retina. Study results showed that intensive therapy reduced the risk for developing retinopathy by 76 percent. In participants with some eye damage at the beginning of the study, intensive management slowed the progression of the disease by 54 percent. The retina is the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. According to the National Eye Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, as many as 24,000 persons with diabetes lose their sight each year. In the United States, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in adults under age 65. DCCT & Kidney Disease Participants in the DCCT were tested to assess the development of diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy). Findings showed that intensive treatment prevented the development and slowed the progression of diabetic kidney disease by 50 percent. Diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of kidney failure in the United States and the greatest threat to life in adults with IDDM. After having diabetes for 15 years, one-third of people with IDDM develop kidney disease. Diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, impair- ing their ability to filter impurities from blood for excretion in the urine. Persons with kidney damage must have a kidney transplant or rely on dialysis to cleanse their blood. DCCT & Nerve Disease Participants in the DCCT were examined to detect the development of nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). Study results showed the risk of nerve damage was reduced by 60 percent in persons on intensive treatment. Diabetic nerve disease can cause pain and loss of feeling in the feet, legs, and fingertips. It can also affect the parts of the nervous system that control blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and sexual function. Neuropathy is a major contributing factor in foot and leg amputations among people with diabetes. DCCT & Cardiovascular Disease DCCT participants were not expected to have many heart-related problems because their average age was only 27 when the study began. Nevertheless, they underwent cardiograms, blood pressure tests, and laboratory tests of blood fat levels to look for signs of cardiovascular disease. The study proved that volunteers on intensive treatment had significantly lower risks of developing high blood cholesterol, a cause of heart disease. The risk was 35 percent lower in these volunteers, suggesting that intensive treatment can help prevent heart disease. What are the risks of Intensive Treatment? In the DCCT, the most significant side effect of intensive treatment was an increase in the risk for low blood sugar episodes severe enough to require assistance from another person. This is called severe hypoglycemia. Because of this risk, DCCT researchers do not recommend intensive therapy for children under age 13, people with heart disease or advanced complications, older adults, and people with a history of frequent severe hypoglycemia. Persons in the intensive management group also gained a modest amount of weight, suggesting that intensive treatment may not be appropriate for people with diabetes who are overweight. DCCT researchers estimate that intensive management doubles the cost of managing diabetes because of increased visits to health care professionals and the need for more frequent blood testing at home. However, this cost is offset by the reduction in medical expenses related to long- term complications and by the improved quality of life of people with diabetes. You cant buy back your Vision
So what should I be doing?*
General Membership PO Box 363 Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0363
** information on DCCT reprinted with permission from the National Institute of Health.
* Please consult your eye doctor for further details. This information is presented for informational purposes and is not designed to substitute for the advice of your eye doctor. |
Send mail to draudia@wveyes.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2008 Drs. Audia & Wickline Last modified: 05/05/08 |