2 Important Things You Can Do To Prevent Diabetes-Related Vision Loss
Posted on: 10 July 2018
Diabetes is a significant health crisis in the U.S. A recent report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stated that over 100 million Americans are now living with diabetes or prediabetes. It also said that diabetes is now the 7th most common cause of premature death in the country. Diabetes contributes to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and the amputation of fingers, toes, and limbs.
Another very common, yet little known, problem that is caused by diabetes is vision loss. This is known as diabetic retinopathy and is caused by the swelling of the blood vessels in the eye as a consequence of uncontrolled high blood sugar levels. Naturally, the prospect of vision loss is a terrifying one for most people. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, here are two things that you can do to help prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.
1. Manage your diabetes properly
Vision loss, like most diabetic health issues, is not a foregone conclusion if your condition is managed properly. Keeping your blood sugar levels within a safe range is the most effective way to stave off more serious health problems, including diabetic retinopathy.
A healthy and active lifestyle with a nutritious and well-balanced diet is vital. If you can't control your blood sugar effectively this way, then following your doctor's advice on using insulin and routinely checking your blood sugar every day will help to keep things in check.
Even if you're already suffering the effects of diabetic retinopathy, complete vision loss isn't always inevitable. Adopting a healthier lifestyle and rigid blood sugar management schedule can help to prevent further damage to your eyes and even reverse the negative effects of diabetic retinopathy by restoring blood vessels to a healthier state.
2. See your optometrist regularly
Like any serious health problem, diabetic retinopathy is more easily treated and less likely to become severe if it's detected and treated early. Regular appointments with an optometrist who is experienced in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy should be a fundamental part of your health care plan.
Using specialized tests, your optometrist can detect the onset of diabetic retinopathy before you even begin to experience any signs of vision disturbance or vision loss. This gives you a chance to halt the progression of the problem before it becomes more severe.
If the damage to your eyes is more severe, there are a number of different treatment options your optometrist might recommend. Steroid injections, laser therapy, and a surgery called vitrectomy are all options that are used at different stages of the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Contact a professional who specializes in diabetic eye treatment in your area to find more info.
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