COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Gladys Knight doesn't have
diabetes, but the disease is as close to her heart as the memories of her
mother, Elizabeth Knight, who died of complications from the disease in 1997.
A five-time Grammy award winner, Knight is as busy as ever gracing the
entertainment world with her exceptional voice. Yet she never misses an
opportunity to voice the message of early detection and treatment of diabetes.
    Like nearly 5.5 million other adults in the U.S., Elizabeth had diabetic
retinopathy, a sight-threatening complication of diabetes that can cause
blindness. More than 270,000 adults in Ohio have diabetic retinopathy. "I
remember my mother being at one of my performances. She came backstage and
shed a tear saying, 'Gladys, I can't see you anymore on stage, baby'," said
Knight. Elizabeth eventually became legally blind in both eyes due to the
disease, as do approximately 25,000 Americans every year. According to Prevent
Blindness Ohio, the longer one has diabetes, the greater the risk of
developing diabetic retinopathy.
    "My mom went to the eye doctor every year and was on top of her health as
far as nutrition and exercise," said Knight. Prevent Blindness Ohio recommends
an annual dilated eye exam for people with diabetes. While diabetic
retinopathy is not always avoidable, management of the disease and treatment
options can help reduce the risk of sight loss. Like many others with diabetic
retinopathy, Elizabeth had laser treatment called photocoagulation, a
procedure that helps control the growth of leaking blood vessels in the
retina.
    "Despite everything, my mom had great faith and resilience. She was an
independent and strong willed woman. She was all about family. She accepted
curves life threw her and battled through them. I think being educated on the
different conditions she had gave her a better understanding of what might lie
ahead. It also gave her the tools to live with diabetes for more than 40
years."
    Elizabeth is not the only person close to Knight that has been hit by
diabetes. This is not surprising, as according to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Diabetes Association, close to
11.1 million Americans have diagnosed diabetes, while an additional
5.9 million have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease
in Ohio and in the United States.  In fact, 6.4% of Ohio's population has this
disease.  Knight's brother David was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the
mid-80's and had to give up performing with the band this past January due to
complications of the disease. In addition, Knight's cousin Edward Patten, one
of the Pips, developed diabetes.
    The CDC and the American Diabetes Association have found through research
that lifestyle changes can help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes,
which has increased in recent years, particularly among children.  However,
people with diabetes can positively influence their overall health by
controlling their blood glucose, choosing foods wisely, exercising regularly,
reducing their stress level, and making modest lifestyle changes. Knight knows
this firsthand and even wrote a cookbook a few years ago after changing her
own nutrition and exercise habits.
    November is National Diabetes Month.  It offers a good opportunity for
people with diabetes to learn more about the serious complications of diabetes
and simple steps they can take to prevent or delay them. Local pharmacies,
doctors' offices and community agencies have partnered with the American
Diabetes Association to distribute the information needed to properly manage
diabetes.
    The American Diabetes Association is currently leading the way to pass
legislation in Ohio that would provide for insurance coverage for people with
diabetes to purchase the basic supplies, medication, and self-management
education necessary to live a healthy life.  A lack of insurance coverage for
basic necessities can often lead to poor blood sugar control and result in the
onset of costly complications like amputation, kidney dialysis, heart disease,
and blindness.  For more information on diabetes and advocacy in Ohio access
ADA's website at http://www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES.
    For more information on diabetic retinopathy, visit
http://www.diabetes-sight.org , a website enabling both patients and health care
professionals to obtain information and resources needed for the prevention of
vision loss from diabetes. Diabetes-sight.org is a service of Prevent
Blindness America, and was made possible through an educational grant from Eli
Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Ind.
    Above all, listen not only to Knight's songs, but also to her words of
wisdom: " DO SOMETHING ABOUT DIABETES  ...  KNOW MORE AND DO MORE!" Knight
feels nearly as passionate about spreading that message as she does about the
incredible singing career her mom helped her launch some 54 years ago.
    The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health
organization supporting diabetes research, professional and public information
and patient advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association is a volunteer-based
community organization that provides services in every state of the country.
For more information contact the ADA at http://www.diabetes.org or call
1-800-DIABETES.  Prevent Blindness Ohio, founded in 1957, is the only
voluntary, not-for-profit Ohio organization dedicated to preventing blindness
and preserving sight. Prevent Blindness Ohio is an affiliate of Prevent
Blindness America, the country's second-oldest national voluntary health
organization.  For more information about diabetic retinopathy and other eye
disorders, contact Prevent Blindness Ohio at 1-800-301-2020 or visit
http://www.preventblindness.org .

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