Diabetic eye disease may predict heart failure, says Tien Y. Wong, MD, PhD. According to a recent study, people who have diabetic retinopathy-diabetes-related damage to blood vessels in the retina-have more than double the risk for heart failure than diabetes patients with healthy retinas.

Self-defense: Everyone who has diabetes needs a comprehensive, dilated eye exam at least once a year. People in whom retinopathy is detected should have a complete cardiac exam-and regular follow-ups.

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