High blood sugar is known to lead to damage to blood vessels throughout the body, including the blood vessels that send oxygen and nutrients to the eyes.
According to doctors, living healthily with diabetes helps patients avoid developing diabetic retinopathy.
According to the Mayo Clinic medical website, symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may not appear early, but as the condition progresses, the patient may develop the following:
For its part, the American network CNN, citing health experts, states that it is necessary to follow 5 fundamental steps, in addition to medical follow-up, to maintain vision safety in diabetic patients, namely:
Keep your glucose level within a healthy range
Managing your blood sugar is the best way to prevent eye complications, such as diabetic retinopathy.
High blood sugar not only damages the eye’s blood vessels, but can also change the shape of the lens and lead to blurred vision.
A Healthy Blood Sugar Level for Diabetics:
Before eating and on an empty stomach: 80-140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
After eating: 140 mg/dl or less
The glycated hemoglobin A1C test should be less than 5.7% and this test measures the average blood sugar level over a 2-3 month period.
Study warns of side effects of using diabetes medication to lose weight
A new study warns of “dangerous side effects” of weight-loss drugs that have become popular recently, even though they are primarily aimed at treating diabetes.
The patient can maintain blood sugar levels by following an appropriate diet, exercising and taking medications if prescribed by a medical professional.
Manage blood pressure and cholesterol
High blood pressure or high blood cholesterol increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Visiting your doctor for regular blood sugar and cholesterol checks can help determine whether you need to adjust your blood pressure and cholesterol values.
Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol is also good for your heart and overall health, so proper diet, physical activity and medications (if you need them) will help you keep those levels within a moderate range.
Get eye exams regularly
Diabetic eye disease causes no symptoms in the early stages, so regular checkups with an eye doctor can increase your chances of catching any eye problems before serious complications develop.
The American Diabetes Association recommends an eye exam as part of the initial treatment plan for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
It is recommended that people with type 1 diabetes undergo screening within the first five years of diagnosis.
During each visit, the ophthalmologist performs a dilated eye exam to check the integrity of your vision and look for problems with the retina and optic nerve. It should be reviewed if any of the following symptoms occur:
Blurred vision
Change in vision level
Dark spots in vision
Flashes of light
Don’t see colors
Avoid smoking
The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the parts of the eyes necessary for clear vision.
Smokers are more susceptible to eye diseases, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, so quitting smoking can help protect your eyes and improve your overall health.
Sports
Regular exercise helps delay the development of diabetic retinopathy, slow its progression and make it less severe.
Doctors still don’t know what types of exercise are best or how much exercise is needed to protect against diabetic retinopathy. However, you can follow the American Diabetes Association’s recommendations and exercise for at least 150 minutes a week.
Usually, a combination of running, walking, and resistance exercises is best.
In addition to the above, visiting an eye doctor at least once a year can help diagnose any vision problems as early as possible.
If you have already lost some of your vision due to diabetes, there are ways to control it: Your doctor may send you to a vision rehabilitation clinic.
Special devices, glasses, contact lenses and other treatments can also help improve the vision that the patient continues to enjoy.
