diabetes Nexus In Smrs

[Berta]

This is one of my local vets.

I got him awarded about two years ago-

mega retro-----long time case------

His rep brought him to my home. I had limited info but had managed to access this BVA case and fortunately it was his because he forgot to bring all of his stuff-

http://www.va.gov/vetapp00/files3/0029422.txt

This was for SC of diabetes but not AO diabetes.

The Nexus is in the BVA decision-

one single word that no one bothered to even look up to see what it meant.

I couldn't wait until they left to delve into this word and what it meant-a few hours later ---

it meant service connection!

I will buy the VBM for the very first person here who posts that they have found the nexus word.

My point is that even with his SMRs the veteran himself nor his rep nor his attorneys at CAVC even read the SMRs carefully or used a medical dictionary to understand them.

Edited May 17, 2007 by Berta

[Boats]

Berta

Here you go

Diabetes and Looking After Your Eyes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHY YOUR EYES NEED TO BE CHECKED

People with diabetes have the same chance of developing eye problems unconnected to their diabetes as anyone else.

However, diabetes can cause some additional eye problems.

TEMPORARY CHANGES IN YOUR EYE SIGHT

You may have noticed changes in your sight around the time you found out you had diabetes. Your sight may have become blurred at times due to higher than normal blood sugar levels affecting the lenses in your eyes. However

These changes settle once your treatment is established and your blood sugar levels return to near normal values.

You should wait for 2 to 3 months after diagnosis of diabetes before you visit your optician for a sight test and/or a change of glasses.

If your diabetes treatment is altered you may notice slight changes again as your blood sugar levels are lowered especially if they were quite high to start with. These will settle as you adjust to your new treatment.

Any sudden change in vision should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Yearly eye tests by an optician are free for people with diabetes.

OTHER EYE CHANGES

All people with diabetes have an additional risk of developing damage to their eyes as a result of poor blood glucose and blood pressure control.

This is called DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.

Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of blindness in the 30-65 age group in the UK at the present time.

Development or progression of diabetic retinopathy can be prevented by good blood sugar control, and the detection and management of high blood pressure.

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy does not cause any symptoms such as pain or loss of sight. Once symptoms are present , it may be more difficult or even impossible to treat the condition. Treatment is usually most successful before patients develop symptoms.

Regular eye screening checks are VITAL and should be done ONCE A YEAR.

Children with diabetes should start to have regular eye examinations at age 12 or, if developing diabetes after puberty, 3 years after diagnosis.

WHERE IS EYE SCREENING CARRIED OUT?

In Tayside:

If you live in Dundee or Broughty Ferry your eye screening will be carried out at a fixed clinic currently situated at the Diabetes Centre in Ninewells Hospital.

If you live in Perthshire, Angus, Tayport or Newport on Tay, there are two mobile eye vans that travel round GP surgeries in these areas.

Wherever you are screened, you will be sent an appointment for this.

WHAT HAPPENS AT EYE SCREENING?

Your eyesight is tested first; remember to bring your distance glasses with you!

Photographs are then taken of the back of your eyes, to check for any diabetic retinopathy.

This is done in a darkened room to allow the pupils of the eye to enlarge and enable a good photograph of the back of the eye to be obtained.

Most people will NOT require to have drops applied to their eyes. However, for a small percentage of people, the pupils will not dilate sufficiently. In this case, eye drops will then be used to make your pupils wider.

We may need to give you a separate appointment for this.

The drops may sting at first. They also affect your sight for a few hours. You will not be able to drive until your vision returns to normal and may need someone to take you home.

You may want to take sunglasses with you, as your eyes will be sensitive to light for a few hours following the eye drops.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER EYE SCREENING?

These photographs are examined by an expert and are kept from year to year for comparison. You will be informed of the result by post in approximately 1 month.

If the eye photograph is abnormal or if there is uncertainty, you may be invited to attend a specialist eye clinic in Tayside and be seen by an Ophthalmologist.

If any changes due to diabetes are found in your eyes, early treatment in most cases will protect your sight.

The photographs form part of your Computer Diabetes Record, and you will be able to see these by asking your GP or Practice Nurse.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

In addition to your yearly eye screening visit, you are entitled to a free sight check at your optician every year.

Inform your optician that you have diabetes.

Give your optician the name of your family doctor and details of where you receive your diabetes care.

People with diabetes can wear contact lenses including some disposable types. However, the disposable lenses that are only worn for 24 hours and then thrown away are not recommended because they do not allow your eyes to get as much oxygen as they need.

If your eyes need further treatment, you should be referred to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) without delay.

[Guest jangrin]

Berta--here is my thinking

The word in the record is ....rhinorrhea-

rhinorrhea can be cause from an auto immune disorder-

One of the most common is DIABETES (especially juvenile diabestes)

They military misdiagnosed the rhinorrhea as allergies when it was really a symptom of diabetes while in service either caused or aggravated.

Jangrin

[Jack]

This is one of my local vets.

I got him awarded about two years ago-

mega retro-----long time case------

His rep brought him to my home. I had limited info but had managed to access this BVA case and fortunately it was his because he forgot to bring all of his stuff-

http://www.va.gov/vetapp00/files3/0029422.txt

This was for SC of diabetes but not AO diabetes.

The Nexus is in the BVA decision-

one single word that no one bothered to even look up to see what it meant.

I couldn't wait until they left to delve into this word and what it meant-a few hours later ---

it meant service connection!

I will buy the VBM for the very first person here who posts that they have found the nexus word.

My point is that even with his SMRs the veteran himself nor his rep nor his attorneys at CAVC even read the SMRs carefully or used a medical dictionary to understand them.

drusen

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration Overview

Macular degeneration is a disorder that includes a variety of eye diseases that affect central vision. Central vision is what you see directly in front of you rather than what you see at the side (or periphery) of your vision.

Macular degeneration is caused when part of the retina deteriorates. The retina is the interior layer of the eye. The macula is the central portion of the retina and is responsible for detailed vision

[Boats]

went from needing glasses 20/200 back to not 20/20

Boats

[free_spirit_etc]

The word drusen

http://www.novartisnutrition.com/us/articleDetail?id=7161

The glycemic index study (1)

The existence of diabetes or a raised blood sugar has not been associated, to date, with the occurrence of AMD. The researchers therefore decided to investigate the quality of the dietary carbohydrate intake in AMD patients. They examined the eyes of over 500 participants in the Nurses Health Study who had not had AMD diagnosed. The presence and degree of any AMD, along with the presence of any drusen (2), was classified as either (a) Unaffected, ( Without AMD but with drusen, or © AMD, with or without drusen. Dietary information came from food-frequency questionnaires collected over 10 years before the eye exams. The women were divided into three groups, according to their dietary glycemic index (3) or their total carbohydrate intake. The dietary glycemic index was found to be related to AMD, while the total carbohydrate wasnt. The likelihood of developing AMD was over 2½ times greater in the highest glycemic index group than in the lowest. Neither the glycemic index nor total carbohydrate intake was linked to the presence of drusen. ..

Diagnosing early AMD

The study described above also found that the glycemic index was related to one of the two major earlier signs of AMD - the presence of pigment changes but not the other (the development of drusen).

Free

This is one of my local vets.

I got him awarded about two years ago-

mega retro-----long time case------

His rep brought him to my home. I had limited info but had managed to access this BVA case and fortunately it was his because he forgot to bring all of his stuff-

http://www.va.gov/vetapp00/files3/0029422.txt

This was for SC of diabetes but not AO diabetes.

The Nexus is in the BVA decision-

one single word that no one bothered to even look up to see what it meant.

I couldn't wait until they left to delve into this word and what it meant-a few hours later ---

it meant service connection!

I will buy the VBM for the very first person here who posts that they have found the nexus word.

My point is that even with his SMRs the veteran himself nor his rep nor his attorneys at CAVC even read the SMRs carefully or used a medical dictionary to understand them.

[free_spirit_etc]

The drusen that was noted in 1961 - was also in his left eye - the eye he later lost vision in.

Free