Diabetes makes it difficult for your body to regulate blood glucose or sugar levels. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are correlated with insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas, interfering with the movement of sugar in the cells. This can cause complications in the nervous, circulatory, and immune systems.
Yet many people may not know that some common complications arising from diabetes are related to the eyes. Because sugar levels impact blood flow, it can interfere with your eye health and negatively impact your vision. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent the emergence of these conditions. Here's what you need to know.
What eye diseases are diabetes patients more susceptible to?
Anyone with diabetes is susceptible to diabetic retinopathy. It's the most common cause of vision loss and blindness among diabetes patients, where the blood vessels in your retina are impacted, causing changes in your vision. As the condition progresses, you may see dark or floating spots in your vision resembling cobwebs.
Patients with diabetes may also be more vulnerable to cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic macular edema. Cataracts make your vision cloudier as you age. But with diabetes, you may develop them earlier in life. Glaucoma, on the other hand, is a cluster of eye conditions related to damage in the optic nerves, which blood sugar levels may impact. Finally, diabetic macular edema can be caused by macular swelling, which is common in those who already experience diabetic retinopathy.
Although diabetes patients are more susceptible to these eye diseases, the good news is that you can easily manage them by paying attention to your blood sugar and blood pressure levels. By staying vigilant and disciplined, you can prevent these conditions from arising.
What can diabetes patients do to protect themselves from eye diseases?
Get regular eye exams
Diabetes patients need to visit an eye doctor every 1 to 2 years. Aside from monitoring vision changes, your optometrist can examine your overall eye health to assess and manage any effects of diabetes. Fortunately, even with a busy schedule, you can more conveniently book an eye exam these days at major retail chains, easily penciling them in on an errand day. Take Target, which hosts professionals from the Independent Doctors of Optometry near their premises. You can quickly book an eye exam at the branch closest to you and get it done alongside grocery shopping or gift-buying for the holidays. That can make booking appointments as crucial as an eye exam more convenient, making you more likely to do so often.
Consult your diabetes care team regularly
Diabetes management to protect your eyes needs to be holistic, too. As such, you should set regular medical appointments with your diabetes care team to monitor crucial factors like blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol that can affect your eye health. Your primary care doctor can assess your needs and refer you to specialists like endocrinologists, dietitians, podiatrists, and even exercise trainers to personalize your treatment. Since ensuring optimal healthcare is crucial but pricey, you can check accessible online resources for financial assistance to lower expenses. You may find local health departments providing diabetes care at smaller costs through FindaHealthCenter.hrsa.gov or seek drug discount programs like NeedyMeds.org. With more affordable expenses, you can better manage your condition to protect your eyes.
Incorporate healthy lifestyle changes
Much of diabetes care needs to be sustained. This means holistic lifestyle changes in your diet and exercise routines to help control blood sugar levels and cholesterol, thus lowering the risk of complications leading to poor eye health. Aim for a well-balanced diet of whole foods, abundant vegetables, and no added sugars. You should also aim to accomplish 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. In doing so, you ensure overall well-being, leading to healthier blood flow to the eyes.
Diabetes can be a risk factor for your eyes. Luckily, there are many ways to manage it more easily to help you better maintain eye health long-term.
