What is it?
Diabetes is a condition which means that the body cannot cope with the
sudden rise in sugar and other carbohydrates when you eat food. The sudden
rise of blood sugar and carbohydrate levels gives rise to the symptoms
of thirst and changes in vision. To assist in stabilizing blood sugar
levels there is a need to watch your sugar intake, take tablets, or have
injections of insulin.
The two types of diabetes are -
Type 1 - controlled by insulin injections
Type 2 - controlled by diet and/or tablets
Both types can affect the eyes in the
same way.
What can happen to the eyes?
- fluctuating blurred vision
- cataract
- diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is where changes occur in the blood vessel walls.
These changes cause the bood vessels to slowly leak, these are what are
seen by Ophthalmoscopy. If the central macula area is affected, you will
find your central vision gradually deteriorating. Without regular check-ups
and treatment, total loss of vision can occur.
What can I do?
To keep any problems to the minimum:
- watch your diet and take your diabetic
treatment
- monitor your blood sugar level
- keep your knowledge about diabetes up to date Diabetes UK
- reduce excess weight
- stop or reduce smoking
- stop or reduce alcohol intake
- keep a check on your blood pressure
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