Diabetes is a condition in which the body is unable to regulate its blood sugar levels. Body either does not produce the hormone insulin that converts sugar to storable form, or the cells do not respond to insulin.
Consequently, sugar remains in the blood, damaging the body in the aftermath. One such part of the body that comes under the knife on account of uncontrolled diabetes are the eyes, and seldom do people understand this connection.
What does diabetes do to your eyes?
The eye problems that diabetes leads to are collectively known as the diabetic eye disease. The implications of these diseases run grave; if not controlled with the aid of an Eye specialist in Islamabad, these might lead to vision loss as well.
Cataracts: One such problem caused is cataracts. In this condition, there is a buildup of cloudy substance on the lens of the eye, which thus causes vision problems. Long-term, it can lead to vision so poor that the person can hardly see anything. Blindness is the final nail in the coffin.
Diabetic retinopathy: Similarly, diabetes also causes the diabetic retinopathy, which can also lead to blindness as well. In DR, the high blood sugar level affects the blood supply to the retina.
In non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels get damaged, which in turn leads to the leakage of the fluid into the eyes, which causes swelling in the retina, resulting in vision problems.
In proliferative retinopathy, there is greater damage to the blood vessels, which may then close off as a result. New and weaker blood vessels are built but they can also affect the health of the eye. If these vessels cause too much pressure to develop in the eye, the retina can get detached as well, which then causes blindness.
Glaucoma: Another problem that diabetes can cause is glaucoma. On account of the high blood pressure and the resultant high pressure, the optic nerve that enables the formation of vision gets damaged.
Since the symptoms of glaucoma set in gradually, people might not realize the problem and thus might not take steps to remedy it. As it can lead to irreparable vision loss, the consequences therefore are rather grave.
Macular edema: Macula in the retina helps in the sharp central vision. However, the leaking blood vessels can affect it, leading therefore to macular edema. It leads to problems with crisp central vision that naturally has implications for your vision overall.
Preventing vision problems
Since diabetes is a chronic problem, there is not remedy for it. What we can do is take care of moderating the blood sugar levels and managing the disease better so that the risk of eye problems can be averted.
Some helpful things to do in this regard include:
Diet
Diet has a direct connection with diabetes. So, make sure to cut back on processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sugary beverages. Try instead to eat fruits and vegetables, alongside protein. Take small and frequent meals.
Manage blood pressure and cholesterol
If you are diabetic, having problems like hypertension and cholesterol can further endanger your eyes. Hence, work on building a good health profile.
Managing diabetes
An important step in ensuring health and lowering the impact of the disease is by controlling the disease itself. This entails religiously taking your medication; whether you have to get insulin shots or take the pills, be meticulous about it.
Moreover, often track your blood sugar levels, so any discrepancies and issues can be reported to the doctor in a timely manner.
Weight
If you are obese or overweight, you must work on losing the extra pounds.
Diabetic eye exams
It is also suggested that you get diabetic eye exams from the Best Eye specialist in Lahore so that any problems can be diagnosed timely, as the looming danger of vision loss needs to be averted.
