Eye Care for People With Diabetes

Eye care is especially important for people with diabetes because they are at increased risk of developing eye complications from the disease. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74.

All people with diabetes should take precautions to help reduce their risk of developing eye problems. Here are some eye care tips.

1. Schedule regular appointments with your eye doctor so that any eye problem can be detected early and treated.
2. Maintain control of your blood glucose levels.
3. Keep your blood pressure in control. High blood pressure by itself can lead to eye disease, so if you have high blood pressure as well as diabetes, it is especially important that you take steps to control both conditions.
4. Get your blood cholesterol levels under control.
5. Eat a healthy diet.
6. Avoid smoking.
7. Exercise regularly.
8.  

When Should I Call the Eye Doctor?

 

If you have diabetes, you should make an appointment to see your eye doctor if you experience any visual problems or notice any changes in your vision. You should seek medical care for your eyes immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Blurring of vision
• Black spots
• Flashes of light
• Partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes

Five Eye Care Tips for Diabetics

                                      

 

                    

 If you have diabetes you should know that you are more susceptible to eye disorders like glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy and blindness. But there is a lot that you can do to take charge of and prevent such problems. Here are some tips for diabetics that can help fight these eye disorders.

1. Keep your blood sugar levels in control. In order to achieve this you must stay away from sugary snacks and foods that are highly processed and made from white flour. The diet must include a lot of high fiber food, unsalted nuts, fruits and vegetables. Drink lots of water so that toxins and wastes are removed from the system. The right diet keeps blood sugar levels steady without many spikes. 
2. Control High Blood Pressure. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for high blood pressure. The best way to control high blood pressure is to exercise regularly. Even though you don't have the time to sweat it out at the gym, it would be very beneficial to walk the dog or take the stairs instead of the elevator or do some active gardening etc. A heart-friendly diet with less salt goes a long way in controlling blood pressure.
3. Say Bye to Smoking. It has been observed that smoking triples the retinopathy progression in diabetics. When you realize that your eyes are in danger because of smoking, isn't it time you took an effort to quit that killer habit?
4. Keep that yearly appointment with the ophthalmologist. "Taking just an hour or so to have a dilated eye examination at least once a year can save people with diabetes from a lifetime of blindness," said Carl Kupfer, MD, director of the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health. Do not settle for your regular doctor. Only an eye doctor can dilate the pupils and detect any changes that suggest retinopathy. Early detection and routine monitoring are very essential to treatment of the disease.
5. Be aware of the symptoms that are associated with eye disorders. In case you have blurred vision, hurting eyes, red eyes that don't go away, eye pressure, or you see spots and floaters, see doubles, have trouble reading make sure you visit the eye doctor at once.

Eyes are God's gift to us to see this beautiful world. Take care of it the best that you can!