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Those of us living with diabetes are often forced to look at things a little differently. We have to watch the foods we eat, keep an eye on our medication schedules, and monitor our blood sugar to keep it on track and avoid unwanted highs and lows.

One other thing (actually two other things) we need to watch out for is our eyes. This is because diabetes—all forms of it, including gestational diabetes—can lead to serious vision problems and, in some severe cases, even vision loss.

According to the National Eye Institute, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes.

 

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy can occur when there is too much sugar in the bloodstream over an extended period of time. This excess sugar can lead to blockages in the tiny blood vessels that feed the back of the eye – the retina. This can lead to serious vision problems that grow worse if left untreated.

In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, known as non-proliferative retinopathy, the blood vessels in the back of the eye become damaged and leak fluid into the retinal tissue, often causing blurry vision. Additionally, swelling in the central part of the eye can occur, leading to macular edema, which can also decrease vision.

If retinopathy is not detected early, things can get worse. In the advanced stages of the disease, known as proliferative retinopathy, blood vessels to the retina actually close off and starve the eye for blood. In an effort to provide it, the body begins forming new blood vessels in the eye. However, these are abnormal and can break and bleed. This leads to scar tissue, which can build up over time and stretch the retina, so much so that it eventually separates from the back of the eye, a condition known as retinal detachment. This condition requires prompt medical treatment to save the patient’s vision.

 

Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

As with many diabetes-related complications, retinopathy, caused by high blood sugar, can damage the eyes very gradually. There are rarely any noticeable symptoms in the early stages of retinopathy, which is one of the reasons it’s so dangerous and why the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that everyone with diabetes get an eye exam at least once a year.

As diabetic retinopathy progresses, symptoms will likely develop and may include any of the following:

• Cloudy vision
• Difficulty seeing a night
• Seeing double
• Blurry vision (often only in one eye)
• Redness/pain in the eye
• Seeing floaters (dark spots in your field of vision)
• Loss of peripheral vision

If you have diabetes and are experiencing any of these signs of retinopathy, see an eye doctor right away.

 

How To Avoid Vision Loss

The brutal truth is that there is no way to completely negate the risk of getting diabetic neuropathy. The longer you live with diabetes, the greater the risk automatically becomes, which is why it is such a common complication. Even if you do develop diabetic retinopathy, it does not mean you are going to lose your vision. Quite the contrary, with early detection and regular monitoring, diabetic retinopathy can be medically managed, and you can protect yourself against vision loss.

Of course, the best prevention is to minimize one's risk of developing the disease in the first place, and doing that involves two primary factors.

 

1. Keep your blood sugar in check

Diabetic retinopathy is directly related to elevated sugar in the blood. So, when you experience spikes, mainly if they occur over a lengthy period, increase your risk of developing retinopathy. Test your blood sugar regularly, follow your medication schedule, eat a diabetes-healthy diet, and work in plenty of physical activity.

If you're having trouble controlling your blood sugar, speak with your diabetes physician. Often, a simple treatment or lifestyle change, such as switching to a prescribed continuous glucose monitoring device (CGM), can get your blood sugar back in the target zone and help keep it there. The fewer fluctuations you have, the lower your risk of diabetes-related eye problems will become.

 

2. Keep other risk factors under control

Many other diabetes-related health concerns, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, compound the risk of diabetic retinopathy. So, if you suffer from either of these, keeping them under control will further minimize your risk of eye problems. If you are a smoker, it’s well past time to quit. Speak with your doctor or explore today’s effective over-the-counter smoking cessation products.

 

3. Never skip those annual eye exams

We cannot stress the importance of seeing your eye doctor at least once a year. Catching retinopathy early is critical to managing it effectively.

 

4. Never ignore changes to your vision

If your vision seems blurry, spotty, or even a little hazy, make an appointment to see your eye doctor ASAP. It isn’t necessarily a diabetes-related eye problem, but knowing for sure will put your mind at ease and possibly help you avoid vision loss.

 

Treating Diabetic Retinopathy

If retinopathy is diagnosed early, your eye doctor will probably simply keep track of the disease with exams as often as every two months. Sometimes, getting blood sugar back under control will stem the progression. When retinopathy does enter the advanced stages, treatments include injections of specific medications and corticosteroids into the eye. Laser treatments can also reduce swelling in the retina and stop the blood vessels from leaking. In more extreme cases, eye surgery is required to prevent the retina from bleeding and remove scarring.

 

Conclusion

If you have diabetes, there is some risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. The longer you live with the disease, the greater that risk becomes. However, the most important thing to remember about diabetic retinopathy is that minimizing risk is in your hands. If you continue to manage your diabetes and control blood sugar effectively, you will significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Plus, even if you get it, advancements in diagnosing and treating retinopathy continue to increase the odds of preventing complications and preserving vision.

 

FAQs

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication related to diabetes that affects the eyes. Damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, can lead to leakage, swelling, and the formation of abnormal blood vessels that impede proper eye function. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.

 

What causes diabetic retinopathy?

The disease is directly related to elevated blood glucose levels associated with diabetes. The excess sugar in the blood damages the fragile blood vessels in the back of the eye, leading to retinopathy and a host of vision problems.

 

What are the symptoms of retinopathy?

Telltale signs of diabetic retinopathy rarely present themselves in the early stages. In the later stages, symptoms include blurry vision in one eye, floaters (dark spots in a person’s field of vision), double vision, loss of peripheral vision, difficulty seeing at night, and redness or pain in the eye.

 

Is there a cure for diabetic retinopathy?

There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, but it can be effectively managed if diagnosed in the early stages. Many people with diabetes live with retinopathy and continue to preserve their vision and live active lives. Early detection is critical, so the American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone with diabetes see their eye doctor at least once a year.

 

Do you have any additional insights on diabetes and eye health? Share them with our readers in the comment section below. Thanks, and stay diabetes-healthy!

 

At Diabetic Warehouse, we’re committed to helping those with diabetes manage their blood sugar by offering a complete selection of testing and treatment supplies at prices up to 65% less than those found at most pharmacies and suppliers.