People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than those without the disease. Many could reduce their risk of vision loss with one simple step: an annual eye exam.

"For someone with diabetes, having an annual eye exam is the most important thing they can do to save their vision," explained Abdhish R. Bhavsar, M.D., a retina surgeon with the Retina Center and the state chair for the Diabetes Eye Exam Initiative. "Diabetes can cause blindness without the patient experiencing any early warning signs."

Diabetic eye disease - which includes diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma - often has no early symptoms. It is detected only during a comprehensive eye examination through dilated pupils. Of the 14 million people with diabetes in the United States, nearly half will develop some degree of diabetic eye disease.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease resulting from diabetes. This disease damages blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that sends visual messages to the brain. Each year, between 12,000 and 24,000 people go blind from diabetic retinopathy.

Other sight-threatening complications of diabetes include a cataract, which is an opacity of the eye's lens that results in blurring of normal vision, and glaucoma, which occurs when increased fluid pressure in the eye leads to progressive damage to the optic nerve. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop a cataract or glaucoma as someone without the disease.

It is estimated that over 120,000 Minnesotans have diabetes and risk the loss of sight from this disease. To combat the problem locally, the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology, the Minnesota Optometric Association, and Stratis Health are working to increase the eye exam rate among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. Ten percent of all Medicare beneficiaries (seniors age 65 and older) have diabetes, yet they receive less than the recommended frequencies of most diabetes monitoring services.

The Diabetes Initiative will provide Medicare beneficiaries who have not had an eye examination in the past three years with information about the National Eye Care Project® (NECP). Through the NECP, qualifying seniors who call the toll-free number, 1-800-222-3937, are matched with a volunteer ophthalmologist in their area who will perform an eye exam and up to one year of treatment for any disease or condition diagnosed at that initial visit. The participating ophthalmologist will waive all co-payments and deductibles and will accept Medicare or private insurance as payment in full.

According to the National Eye Institute, nearly one-third of people with diabetes do not get yearly eye exams. Yet it is estimated that a year of blindness costs the U.S. government approximately $13,607 annually per person in Social Security benefits, lost income tax revenue and health care expenditures. If Americans at risk for developing diabetic eye disease were regularly screened and treated to preserve their sight, the net annual savings to the government would be more than $100 million.

As a new twist this year, 20,000 stickers are included in the Winter Car Safety Kit, a project of the St. Paul Area American Red Cross. In addition to the jump-start stickers, the kits contain a flashlight with batteries, a snack food item, flagging tape, a candle, matches, a pencil and notepad for messages, and more.

Kits cost $5 plus tax and are available beginning Winter Hazard Awareness Week, Nov. 6-10, at participating True Value Hardware stores and the St. Paul Area Red Cross, while supplies last. Proceeds from the kit sales will support Red Cross service in the community. The project is sponsored by WCCO-TV, AT&T Wireless and True Value.

For a free jump-start safety sticker, send a stamped, self-addressed business envelope to Sight & Hearing Association, c/o Jump-Start, 674 Transfer Road, St. Paul, MN 55114.

Most firearms range from 140 to 170 decibels - loud enough to damage your hearing instantly. In a recent study by researchers from Central Michigan University and Wayne State University, half of the hunters surveyed experienced tinnitus - a constant ringing in the ears. Tinnitus often is a sign of noise-induced hearing loss.

The simplest way to protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus is to wear hearing protectors, which come in various shapes, sizes, types and colors. For hunting, the best protection is an electronic hearing protection device (EHPD). These "smart" devices amplify high frequency sounds, such as leaves crackling under an approaching deer, but close off sounds louder than 110 dB, such as gunfire. Cammack now wears electronic hearing protection to reduce any risk of further damage.

When worn correctly, hearing protection can reduce your risk of serious injury and lifelong complications to your hearing. In addition, when hearing protection is worn while shooting, your concentration level increases, enabling you to shoot more accurately.

For a free pair of ear plugs, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Sight & Hearing Association, 674 Transfer Road, St. Paul, MN 55114.

Background
I have three children. Maria is a freshman in college, John is a junior at Tartan High School and Chelsea is in the 5th grade. I currently live in St. Louis Park, grew up in New Jersey but have lived here since 1979.

How long have you been involved with SHA?
Since November of 1997.

Why did you become involved?
I was interested in and impressed with the services provided by SHA. I was particularly interested in the screening programs that are sponsored by the association.

Planned giving is a major financial aspect of any nonprofit's long-term existence. With your help, SHA began a new initiative in this area.

Can you suggest some easy ways people can go about joining in this effort?
I found that payroll deduction works well for me. Many years ago when I first started to work, I pledged $1 per paycheck to the United Way, which was the only alternative at the time. Each year I would increase the amount donated by an amount that I was comfortable with. During annual giving campaigns, that is what I recommend for people to do. Every little bit helps and in the long run, it can add up to a lot of money. A $4 per paycheck contribution ends up being $100 by the end of the year. It is probably easier for most people to do it that way than to write a check for $100.