What can I do to reduce the risk of sight loss from diabetes?

It has been shown that excellent control of diabetes and monitoring / treating high blood pressure significantly reduces potential sight threatening complications.

Ensure that you have your regular (usually annual) diabetic check ups at your clinic or hospital where they will monitor / measure you sugar control and blood pressure. Should this expose a problem they will guide you to the best course of action.

Diabetic smokers are more likely to experience nerve damage, kidney and cardiovascular disease and smoking increases your blood pressure and raises your blood sugar level. Not smoking, good sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol control can all reduce the risk of diabetes related sight loss.

Your physician, diabetologist or optometrist can examine your eyes for diabetic retinopathy. Photographs of the retina can detect abnormalities without any other form of test and if a problem is found you will be referred to a consultant ophthalmologist.

What is the treatment?

If detected early the majority of sight-threatening problems caused by diabetic retinopathy can be managed by laser treatment. This treatment will preserve the sight you have but will not make it better. The laser seals the leaking blood vessels or if new blood vessels are growing, more extensive laser treatment will be carried out which can be quite painful. Many people find eye treatment of this kind quite distressing.

The treatment for sealing blood vessels has few side effects, perhaps a temporary reduction of sight which may last an hour or two after the treatment and maybe some loss to central vision or some small black spots in your vision.

A more common side effect is some loss to your peripheral vision which could affect your ability to drive safely. Night and color vision may also be affected.

Occasionally your central vision may not be as good as before.

Laser treatment to remove new blood vessels is more complicated and therefore carries more chance of side effects.

Should you suffer severe pain or if your eyesight gets worse post treatment, you should contact your eye specialist immediately. If this is not possible, go straight to your nearest hospital.

After laser treatment, should your eye condition become more severe, causing retinal detachment and scar tissue, or if the vitreous becomes cloudy due to recurrent bleeding, you will need an operation called a vitrectomy. This highly specialized operation will involve the vitreous being removed and replaced with a clear solution.

Other ways diabetes can affect the eyes

Temporary blurring

This can be one of the first symptoms of diabetes or if your diabetes is not well controlled. It is due to a swelling of the lens of the eye and will clear without treatment once good diabetes control is restored.

Cataracts

This very common eye condition happens as people get older but someone with diabetes may develop cataracts at an earlier age than someone without diabetes because diabetes is an aging disease. Until recently, the only treatment offered for those suffering with cataracts involves an operation to remove the cloudy lens and replaced by a plastic lens.

Can-C eye drops are already being used by thousands of people suffering with cataract to dissolve their cataracts rather than going under the knife.

But Can-C eye drops are also an excellent weapon in combating diabetic eye conditions. If you are at risk of contracting diabetes or you are a diabetic or one of your loved ones has this terrible aging disease, consider the importance of maintaining good eye health. In between your regular eye check ups you could protect your eyes against potential eye problems with Can-C from as little as 57 cents a day. A daily administration can keep your eyes healthy and gives your eyes the best fighting chance against some of the horrific conditions associated with this century’s epidemic – diabetes.

Can-C treatment of age related cataracts in canines.

A Russian research team led by Dr Mark Babizhayev spent nearly a decade testing a variety of anti-glycation agents. Glycation is the result of a sugar molecule like glucose, bonding to a protein or lipid molecule without the controlling action of an enzyme. It is seen as one of the causes of aging and glycation within the eye primarily attributes to a protein build up (debris) concluding in cataract formation. The team understood the role of the anti-glycation, anti-oxidant, L-Carnosine and this knowledge led to the development of n-alpha-acetylcarnosine as the delivery system into the eye for L-carnosine.

N-alpha-acetyl-carnosine (shortened and more commonly now known simply as NAC) began to be tested in the eyes of animals, particularly in canines and rabbits. These studies produced quick and excellent results in the improvement of clarity and overall vision for the animals involved. Additionally there were no side effects and the positive affects were sustainable.

Dr Mark commented that ‘the treatment of age-related cataracts in canines and rabbits has been conducted and the efficacy of using NAC for cataract treatment was established. The striking results in canines and rabbits for both cataract reversal and prevention of lens opacities are clear."

12 years ago NAC eye drops were introduced to the world as IVP approved Can-C. IVP stands for Dr Mark’s organisation Innovative Vision Products.
In a controlled study of 30 dogs with cataracts, a topical application of Can-C (1% NAC) eye drop solution was applied twice daily. The study demonstrated that:
The drops improved visual behaviour of the animals within weeks of treatment.
Cataract reversal starts from the periphery of the cataract followed by increased transparency of the lens.
96% of canine eyes treated with N-acetylcarnosine (Can-C) showed notable improvements.
Dogs with both immature and ripe cataracts showed significant visual improvement.

Can-C.biz have recently discovered that half of their customers are buying their IVP approved Can-C for their dogs. Perhaps they are in agreement with Dr Mark who noted that Can-C appears to work even more effectively in canines than in humans! The dosage for animals has not yet been clearly defined, so most pet owners are following the same dosage recommendation for humans and are applying 3 to 4 drops per affected eye daily. If in doubt, discuss with your veterinarian.

NOTE: Can-C™ is manufactured in a GMP certified, pharmaceutical facility which meets ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 13485:2003 standards for the design/formulation and manufacture of sterile contact lens solution and pharmaceutical solutions.

Are insulin injections the only answer for your diabetic dog?

There are natural ways to treat and help your diabetic dog but the fact still remains, if they need insulin, then insulin they must have. But even if this is the only answer you can still considerably reduce the amount of insulin to be administered along with improving your dog’s health and wellbeing.

Diet.

It goes without saying that sugar needs to be reduced or cut out completely. But although it is pretty easy to recognize sugar or glucose within foodstuffs, it isn’t so obvious to recognize the other big culprit for diabetic mayhem – carbohydrates. Most dry dog foods, including the prescription diets your vet sells, are predominately made from grains. The problem with grains is that they’re usually very high in carbohydrates, which you and your dog’s body quickly turns into glucose thus producing a spike in blood sugar levels.

If you think of the principle of the Atkins diet with the cutting out of carbs, you can begin to understand what happens when you or your dog consumes carbs. Carbs = sugar = weight gain (sometimes diabetes). Both simple and complex carbs produce glucose but they are released into the blood stream at different speeds. Simple being quick, complex being slow. Generally they are OK for your energy levels but the over-consumption of carbs has probably been the leading cause of obesity and diabetes in both humans and dogs. In times gone by before the modern medical marvels of treating diabetes if someone became diabetic it was unlikely they would live past 30. But the doctors of old recommended a diet of protein and fat with no carbs or sugar (fruit), perhaps you could say those doctors of a couple of hundred years ago began the Atkins diet! The best way to regulate the glucose being released into the bloodstream is to prolong the digestion process with a diet higher in protein and fat. In the case of your diabetic dog perhaps try a good quality canned food or better still a homemade diet.


Exercise.

Any good diabetic will tell you that exercise does wonders for their condition. Getting the blood pumping helps shift that excess weight and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. The fatter you are, the more difficult it is to keep good sugar levels and control. Diabetes is all about good control. The only thing to be mindful of is that exercise will burn your sugar up so beware of the hypo. The same applies to your dog, give him as much exercise as possible but have something on hand should he show symptoms of a hypo. With this in mind perhaps you should work out an exercise plan with your vet.

Your vet will tell you that consistency is the key and will probably suggest that you exercise your pet at the same time every day keeping the sessions the same length without being over-vigorous; you do not want your dog getting out of breath as he could be on the way to having a hypo. If your dog goes dizzy or weak or starts to act in an unusual way, give him something sweet and get to the vet quickly.

Natural Remedies

Many studies have shown that certain herbs, vitamins, nutrients and minerals can be helpful in regulating blood glucose levels in a diabetic dog. These include:

Fenugreek: helps to slow down carbohydrate absorption and may stimulate insulin production.

Astragalus: is often used in Chinese Medicine. Clinical research has proven its effectiveness to regulate glucose levels and it can also prevent or slow the formation of cataracts, which are almost a guaranteed effect of canine diabetes.

Goat’s rue can lower glucose levels without causing hypoglycaemia (hypo) and may also reduce your dog’s risk of cataracts, and may also prevent kidney damage.

Bilberry is another cataract preventing favourite with herbalists with some even believing Bilberry can reverse them.

Chromium is an essential mineral for glucose regulation in the blood. Popular with humans in supplement form, it is also an excellent product for your diabetic dog. It can prevent insulin resistance, which is usually a precursor of type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of this disease among canines and humans.

All the above are fine to use along with insulin but some owners wish to pursue this herbal direction to a point where their pet is no longer insulin dependent. This is a great goal but consult with your vet before making any major changes. Remember mainstream vets are not champions of any alternative remedies or medicines, so make sure your vet is forward rather than backward thinking.

Diabetes is a horrible aging disease but with good blood sugar control for you or your dog it will mean a virtually normal and happy existence.

Good luck!

Is there anything good about smoking?

I think in terms of health we would all agree the answer is NO! It is a smelly, unsociable, dirty habit that has absolutely no benefits whatsoever. Well, pure nicotine does actually have a role to play in anti-aging medicine believe it or not, but I am talking about cigarettes which are full of some of the nastiest poisons known to man. You can’t even use the immature argument that smoking makes you look cool anymore, maybe up to 25 years ago but now it is definitely un-cool. Smokers have become society’s inconvenience publically and a drain on medical resources. Smoking is a purely selfish and destructively pointless past-time that is incredibly costly to your health and to your wallet. My simple message is don’t start or if you have succumbed to this hideous habit – give up! Everyone will thank you for it.

Rant over.

Most people realize that smoking is linked to many cancers and cardiovascular diseases and conditions, but do you know what smoking does to your eyes? Researchers at The Duke University Medical Center have concluded that the tar in cigarettes has a big impact on the retina, leaving deposits and thickening it. Smoking narrows blood vessels which reduces blood flow to the eye. Two of the major problems with diabetes is diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy which are caused by poor circulation due to too much sugar in the blood stream. The blood vessels are weakened and break, bleed or contribute to a lack of sensitivity in the extremities. If you are diabetic smoker you are massively increasing an existing problem and definitely asking for serious eye health issues.

Smoking increases the production of free radicals while at the same time reducing the positive effect of antioxidants. Smoking causes cellular damage and affects the aqueous and the tissue around the eye and retina and it reduces the macular pigment that acts to protect the eyes from UV radiation.

Smoking is the greatest contributor to age-related macular degeneration and it ‘encourages’ cataract formation, glaucoma, Graves ophthalmopathy and as mentioned above, diabetic retinopathy. But these eye diseases will not be limited to the smokers themselves but also to anyone in regular contact with cigarette smoke enjoying the wonders of passive or second-hand smoking!

Stub it out – your smoke is getting in our eyes!

Eye Wish Eye Had Known That When Eye Was Younger

Aging is inevitable. Prevention against aging diseases is possible. Regarding your eyes, it is easy to see how these overworked, never rested organs, suffer with diminished functionality as time passes by. Vision progressively gets worse as your eyes suffer one ailment, syndrome and condition after another. Some changes, such as needing glasses to read or having cataracts, are commonly recognized and certainly accepted as natural by-products of aging. Other changes are more subtle but can cause potentially greater harm to vision.

• Presbyopia – Long Sightedness – usually occurs around the age of 40, and is realized when you can no longer read the print up as close to your eyes as before. The symptoms are sometimes accompanied by headaches and tired or strained eyes. Presbyopia happens because the lens inside the eye becomes harder and has lost some of its elasticity therefore restricting its ability to change shape. The lens is simply suffering from age and is no longer young, flexible and healthy as before. Reading glasses fix the problem but of course some people find this a difficult step to admit to themselves, because using them in public to read a menu for example, is basically admitting your age. It is also a bit annoying if you are already short-sighted, as you will need bi-focal lenses or of course two pairs of glasses. Some may chose laser correction like LASIK but this author cannot agree with this approach due to the enormous amount of negativity surrounding this procedure, let alone the side effects, costs and risks.

Authors note: N-acetyl-carnosine is a super antioxidant specifically formulated to benefit the parts of the eye that suffer from age. You could help prevent the onset of Presbyopia or stunt its progression by keeping the lens younger, more flexible and healthier by simply administering an eye drop.

• Floaters – These are tiny specks or “cobwebs” that float through your vision and are especially seen in bright light or on a sunny day. Some people see floaters throughout their life but in most cases they are seen as a normal part of aging. But, should you suddenly experience a lot of floaters, this could be an indication that something more serious is afoot like retinal detachment and you ought to go to your eye specialist straight away.

• Cataracts – There are many types of cataract and people can produce a cataract at any time in their life but as we are talking about aging eye conditions, in this article, we are referring to senile cataract. Cataracts are the result of the lens losing its elasticity, becoming harder and more brittle. The lens suffers from glycosylation, which occurs throughout the body as we age. This is the imbalance or cross-linking of proteins, sugar and oxygen and could actually be considered as an aging disease. You can witness glycosylation by cutting an apple in half and watching it go brown. This is the same process going on through our bodies as we age and in our eyes, the lenses are going brown or cloudy. Vision through cataract is like looking through a waterfall and this blurred or hazy vision gets worse with every passing day. Cataracts are so common among people over age 65 that they are now considered a normal part of aging and cataract surgery is the most common in the world. But, just because it is common doesn’t mean it is available to everyone or for everyone and it certainly isn’t without risk or complication. 5% of all cataract surgery has serious complications and 5% of millions is a lot of people! Some replacement lenses have a limited ability to change focus and although they are good at their job, artificial lenses will never truly replace your original lenses.

Authors note: Carnosine is an extremely potent anti-glycosylation antioxidant for your body. N-acetyl-carnosine is the advanced version of carnosine specifically for use in your eyes. Carnosine alone cannot help your eyes. If you have an interest in the damage caused by glycosylation which is something that especially ‘attacks’ diabetics, please read about Aminoguanidine at www.antiagingcentral.com. This is the latest anti-glycosylation product on the market.

• Glaucoma – is a condition that can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma is the result of too much fluid, causing pressure to increase inside the eye. It has been described as a silent enemy as it creeps up on you often undetected as there are no symptoms or pain associated with this condition. A very scary statistic is that only 8% of all Americans understand that glaucoma's development is not detectable without glaucoma screening.

The reason for why people get glaucoma is often debated but some of the main culprits are high levels of stress, diabetes, being overweight, cardio problems, thyroid conditions, poor digestion and the lacking of important nutrients found in food including essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium and vitamin B-complex.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans and is six to eight times more common than in Caucasians.

Yearly eye check up’s are so important for all eye conditions but they seem especially poignant with Glaucoma because you could already have it. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you will be able to deal with this insidious condition.

• Retinal problems –The retina is a light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye which is full of light receptors. When light enters the eye, the retina converts the image into electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain where it is decoded as vision. Half of our brain is used for vision. Disorders of the retina are a leading cause of blindness in the United States and many retinal disorders come with age.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) The disease is just as the name suggests: the degeneration of the macula, which is the centre part of the retina. The macula is responsible for fine, detailed vision, and as it deteriorates, your field of vision narrows until you can't see anything at all. This usually happens gradually, maybe taking many years before reaching total blindness if left completely untreated. There are two types of ARMD – Wet and Dry. Dry ARMD is the more common form and the less severe. It is caused by the deterioration of the tissue of the macula. Yellowish deposits form under the macula, causing it to thin and dry out. The wet form of ARMD in its advanced stages causes rapid growth of small blood vessels beneath the retina. Affected blood vessels leak blood and other fluid, which form scar tissue that causes vision loss.

For those who have ARMD, it can be a frightening path to follow - particularly since mainstream medicine offers virtually no way to halt it. But forward-thinking doctors have been talking about the relationship between nutrition and vision for years and studies started nearly 20 years ago showed an extremely positive relationship between good nutrition and halting or slowing ARMD. In some instances the studies showed a reduction in the incidence of ARMD by 25%, when that participating group used antioxidants and zinc.

ARMD is the leading cause of low vision among older people and occurs most frequently among Caucasians.

Diabetic Retinopathy.If you are diabetic then the chances are that you will eventually suffer from Diabetic Retinopathy which is when diabetes affects the small blood vessels in your retina. You are at increased risk of developing retinopathy if:

You have had diabetes a long time

Your blood glucose level is poorly controlled

You have high blood pressure

You are pregnant

You are taking insulin

Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to blindness so please have your eyes checked and screened every year.

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye. This usually produces a flurry of floaters in your vision as well as flashes of light. This is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately to prevent loss of vision.

For the young, old age will happen one day but it seems too far in the future to care about. But the more care you take of yourself today, the brighter tomorrow will be. If aging is a disease, think about preventing or slowing down that disease. Small steps taken now will help for the troubled road ahead. If you believe in preventive qualities offered by nutritional supplements and vitamins, then don’t forget your eyes! Use the best ocular health-promoting antioxidant, N-acetyl-carnosine, today and every day, by using Can-C eye drops.

Interesting Eye Facts

Eyes:

Are have more than 2,000,000 working parts

Are our second most complex organs, the first being the brain. About half the brain is used during the seeing process.

Are capable of assimilating 36,000 bits of information in just one hour.

Are able to see the light of a candle at a distance of 14 miles.

Can contribute toward 85% of your total knowledge.

Utilize 65% of all the pathways to the brain.

Can set in motion hundreds of muscles and organs in your body in an instant.

Can bring you almost 24 million images in the course of a lifetime

Are the only part of the human body that can function at 100% ability at any moment without rest. Your eyes will never need rest but the same does not apply to your eyelids or the eye muscles. Of course the surface of your eyes need constant lubrication, so don’t forget to blink when you are reading or concentrating, otherwise the likes of computer vision and dry eye syndrome will be upon you.

AND

The muscles that move the eyes are 100 times more powerful than they need to be.

Only one sixth of the eyeball is exposed.

Eyesight is your most precious sense, so take care of your eyes, keep them healthy and have regular check-ups.

If you are 30 + and want to use the best eye supplement on the market for eye disorders associated with aging, then Can-C eye drops are for you. We especially recommend the drops for diabetics to keep your eyes at their best and to ward off the ravages of diabetic retinopathy.

Can-C is popular with those who use computers and those who are suffering from dry eye, macular degeneration or senile cataract plus those who require great vision in their workplace like pilots. Of course Can-C is as good for your pet as it is for you.

Can-C is the natural choice for the future of your eyesight.

Can-C for your dog. Your questions answered.

Canine FAQ’s

Q. How safe are Can-C Eye Drops for dogs?

A: As safe as they are for humans. Can-C eye drops were researched in humans and in animals for approximately ten years before the product was manufactured. The drops have now been available and widely used worldwide for the last 12 years with little to no side effects or complications. The antioxidant properties of Can-C appear to soothe and improve the overall health of dog eyes.

Q: Apparently my dog is too small for cataract surgery. Can I use the eye drops for him?

A. Yes. But of course the smaller the dog, the smaller the dogs eyes so you may find it quite difficult to administer the drops. Also, dog owners administering the drops to smaller dogs tend to use less than with larger dogs. Can-C has been successfully used to treat domestic animals of all sizes from Chihuahua’s to the largest of breeds.

Q. What is the success rate when using the drops on dogs?

A: It is fair to say that nearly all customers who use the product per instruction will see improvements in their pet's condition. As with humans, results for cataract reversal vary depending upon the maturity of the cataract at the outset of treatment. The type of cataract is an important factor to consider. Injury induced dog cataracts and dog cataracts that result from steroid medications or diabetes may take longer to respond to the product or at worst, the drops may not work in these instances. The clinical studies concentrated on senile cataract and this is where the greatest percentage of success lies. Consistency of application is critical to success in the above mentioned scenarios and can mean the difference between minimal results and very good results. If you cannot commit to 3 drops per eye, per day, then the desired results may not be delivered. Initial improvements generally present within the first 3 months with optimal results usually being achieved between 6 - 12 months continuous use. As with human cataract conditions, once the optimal level of improvement has been reached, it is recommended to reduce the dose to 1 drop daily for maintenance purposes.

Q. Is there any point using the drops if my dog is already blind through cataract?

A: It is unlikely that Can-C will be able to penetrate through such a cataract as cataracts at this stage are generally too hard. If your dog is blind because of such an advanced stage cataract it will probably be quite irritating to your dog and the eye will be susceptible to infection. Unfortunately in many of these more severe cases, removal of the eye is advised. Can-C can reduce the risk of infection and aid with irritation because they are soothing to your dogs eyes. As always it is advised to follow the advice of your veterinarian. A useful group to contact if you are facing life with a blind dog can be found at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/blinddogs/

Q. Do ‘younger’ cataracts have a better success rate with the drops?

A: In the human clinical trials, the length of time the patients had cataract (the maturity) did have a bearing on the results. For those who had cataracts for less than 7 years experienced the most dramatic results. Between 7 -15 years, very good results and for those with cataracts older than 15 years the improvements were less dramatic. Sometimes the maturity of the cataract corresponds to the length of treatment time. Younger cataracts take less time than very mature cataracts to respond to the drops.

Q. Do the drops dissolve the entire cataract?

A: The cataract is often fully reversed. If complete reversal is not possible, as could be the case with very mature cataract, there is still significant improvement in eye sight. You should start to witness a change and improvement in your dog’s behaviour or even the reducing of the cataract by looking into your dog’s eyes.

Q. Are there any side effects?

A: For some humans a reddening of the eye or eyes going bloodshot for the first week or so has been reported in a very small amount of cases. This soon disappears. Some dogs could experience the same but generally speaking after 12 years of sales, this natural anti-oxidant formulation is a soothing eye lubricant which improves the overall environment in the eye without side effects or contraindications.

Q. Will my dogs cataract return after it has been reversed?

A: While it takes 3-4 drops daily over 6 - 12 months to reverse cataract it takes far less to prevent the re-growth of cataract at just 1 drop per eye, per day for maintenance and prevention. It is important to note that your dog is predisposed to cataract and the same imbalance that allowed the cataract to form in the first place will still be present. If you do not continue to use the drops the cataract is likely to return.

Q. How long will each box of Can-C last?

A: Each box of Can-C contains two 5ml vials and each 5ml vial contains approximately 75 drops. When used to treat degenerative ocular conditions such as cataracts, one box should last approximately 50 days at a rate of 3 drops in each affected eye daily.

Q. Will the drops sting my dogs eyes?

A: There should be no stinging whatsoever due to the PH levels of this formulation. The drops should soothe and assist with any irritation.

Q. My dog's has diabetic cataracts, will Can-C help?

A: Cataracts are sadly almost guaranteed should you dog become diabetic. The development of diabetic induced cataracts can occur extremely quickly. In response, act quickly and start using Can-C at the earliest possible time to give your dog the best chance of cataract reversal. The severity and maturity of the cataract could hinder the potential results of the drops. It is probably advisable to use at least 4 drops per eye, per day to try to slow the aggressive progression of this type of cataract. Should optimal results be achieved, it is strongly recommended to continue using the drops at the maintenance dosage of at least 1 drop per eye, per day.