Preventing eye damage due to diabetes
If you have this condition, you are more prone to develop eye issues. They have the potential to produce impaired eyesight, if not complete blindness. The most effective approach to avoid these complications is to maintain proper diabetes management.
Diabetic eye disease is a collection of problems that may occur as a result of diabetes. Diabetes-related retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma are among the conditions that may affect the eyes. All of these have the potential to cause severe vision loss, if not complete blindness.
Even worse, these diseases may creep up on you and take you completely off guard. Early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and thorough follow-up care, on the other hand, may be able to avoid visual loss.
What Causes Diabetes-Related Vision Impairment?
In patients with diabetes that is uncontrolled or poorly managed, blood vessels in the retina, which is the portion of the eye that transforms light into electrical impulses that enable us to see, maybe damaged. Injuries to these fragile blood vessels may cause enlargement of the macula, which is the centre portion of the retina that enables us to perceive fine details.
Blood clots in the eye, scarring, excessive intraocular pressure (glaucoma), and even retinal detachment are possible complications of diabetic retinal injury. A significant cause of permanent blindness around the globe, diabetic retinopathy (also known as diabetic retinal damage), is a condition known as diabetic retinal damage.
What can you do to prevent vision loss caused by diabetes?
Maintain Control of Your Blood Sugar:
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level requires eating a diet low in sugar and other simple carbs, exercising frequently, and regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels. Always consult with your primary care physician, an endocrinologist, and perhaps even a dietitian while dealing with diabetes. Take insulin or other medicines consistently, as directed by your physician.
Maintain a Healthy Diet: Prepare meals at home using fresh foods wherever possible. Avoid overindulging in red meat, and be sure you consume enough veggies! Fried meals, processed carbs, and sugary drinks should be avoided.
- Fibre is recommended because it helps to delay the release of glucose into your system. Additionally, meals with a high amount of soluble fibre may help reduce your “bad” LDL cholesterol level. According to nutritionists, you should consume at least 20-30 grammes of fibre each day. As a result, oatmeal or an oat-based cereal should be your first meal of the day. Whole grains, including barley, beans and lentils, nuts, eggplant and okra, and fruits containing pectin are excellent dietary fibre sources (such as apples, strawberries, grapes, and citrus).
- Drink plenty of water since dehydration may cause blood sugar levels to rise. However, drinking water is preferable since sugary beverages such as sodas and juices may raise your blood glucose levels. Infuse it with fruit or herbs (think strawberries and mint) for taste without the sugar spike if you don’t like the essential thing as much.
Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy by Keeping Your Blood Pressure Under Control: Maintaining proper blood pressure may help prevent diabetic retinopathy.
Take advantage of an annual dilated eye exam:
Visit an ophthalmologist or optometrist at least once a year or more often if necessary. It is possible to avoid permanent vision loss if you are diagnosed and treated early enough. If you are experiencing visual issues such as “floaters” in your vision or hazy vision, you should see an ophthalmologist every once.
Consume Fish: Diets high in Omega 3s, found in fatty fish such as salmon and halibut, and albacore tuna, mackerel and sardines, have been associated with reduced incidence of diabetic retinopathy. Researchers believe they may protect the eyes against inflammation and aberrant blood vessel development, both of which can be harmful. The omega-3 fatty acids also assist in lowering cholesterol, which is beneficial for your blood vessels and, therefore, for your vision. Two meals each week should be plenty.
Meditate: Stress may cause your blood glucose and blood pressure to rise. Therefore it is essential to relax. According to experts, meditation may assist you in distinguishing between urgent issues and annoying anxieties and let go of nagging, unnecessary ideas. Relax your thoughts and your body at the same time! Consider using a mindfulness meditation app, consulting with a therapist, or enrolling in a group meditation class.
Sport Sunglasses: The sun’s intense UV rays may cause damage to your eyes and increase your chances of developing eye disorders such as cataracts. Since you can’t alter the reality that you have diabetes, focus on the aspects of your life that you can influence. Wearing sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays are recommended even on overcast days.
Please pass the greens: Dark, leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, collard and turnip greens, are high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect against vision loss. These antioxidants help preserve the cells in your retina and, when combined with vitamin E, may help you prevent developing cataracts. Broccoli, peas, maize, and eggs are all excellent sources of vitamin A.
Take Your Medication as Directed by Your Doctor: You must adhere to the instructions for it to function well. This covers the when, how, and how much information. If you use insulin, be sure to keep it at the proper temperature and away from direct sunlight. Inform your doctor if your blood glucose levels are often too high or too low regularly. Your dosage or the kind of medication you are taking may need to be changed.
No Cigarettes: Smoking is not only harmful to your health, but it is also harmful to your eyes. For example, you’re twice as likely as the average person to get cataracts. And that’s on top of the increased likelihood of developing complications as a result of your diabetes. Tobacco users have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and of having it progress more quickly.
Consult Your Optometrist: If you have an eye issue, you may not notice any changes in your vision right away. A dilated eye exam, performed at least once a year, allows your eye doctor , just go to Dr kamdar hospital obtain a better look inside your eye, at the retina and optic nerve, to search for the earliest indications of damage to these structures. When illnesses are caught early and treated promptly, they have a better chance of avoiding more severe complications later on.