2024-01-18 09:44:13
It is known that high blood sugar leads to damage to blood vessels throughout the body, including the blood vessels that send oxygen and nutrients to the eyes.
According to doctors, living with diabetes in a healthy way helps patients avoid developing diabetic retinopathy.
According to the website “Mayo ClinicMedically, the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may not appear early, but as the condition progresses, the patient may develop the following:
For its part, the network reportedCNNAccording to American health experts, it is necessary to follow 5 basic steps, along with medical follow-up, to maintain the safety of sight in diabetics, which are:
Maintain your glucose level in a healthy range
Managing blood sugar is the best way to prevent eye complications, such as diabetic retinopathy.
High blood sugar not only damages blood vessels in the eye, but can also change the shape of the lens and lead to blurry vision.
A healthy blood sugar level for diabetics:
- Before eating and fasting: 80-140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
- After eating: 140 mg/dL or less
The glycated hemoglobin A1C test must be less than 5.7%, and this test is a measure of the average blood sugar level over a period of 2-3 months.
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The patient can maintain blood sugar levels by following an appropriate diet, exercising, and taking medications if prescribed by a specialist doctor.
Manage blood pressure and cholesterol
High blood pressure or high blood cholesterol increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Visiting your doctor for regular blood sugar and cholesterol checks can help determine if your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers need to be adjusted.
Controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol is also good for your heart and overall health, so proper diet, physical activity, and medications (if you need them) will help keep those levels within a moderate range.
Conduct regular eye examinations
Diabetic eye disease does not cause symptoms in its early stages, so regular checkups with an eye doctor can increase the chances of finding any eye problems before serious complications develop.
The American Diabetes Association recommends an eye examination as part of the initial treatment plan for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
It is recommended that people with type 1 diabetes undergo screening within the first five years of diagnosis.
During each visit, the ophthalmologist performs a dilated eye examination to check the integrity of the vision and look for problems in the retina and optic nerve. It must be reviewed if one of the following symptoms occurs:
- Blurry vision
- Change in vision level
- Dark spots in vision
- Flashes of light
- Not seeing colors
Avoid smoking
The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the parts of your eyes that you need for clear vision.
Smokers are more susceptible to eye diseases, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, so quitting smoking can help protect your eyes and improve your overall health.
Sports
Regular exercise helps delay the development of diabetic retinopathy, slow its progression, and make it less severe.
Doctors do not yet know what types of exercise are best or how much exercise one needs to protect against diabetic retinopathy. However, you can follow the American Diabetes Association’s recommendation and be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week.
Usually, a combination of running, walking, and physical endurance exercises is best.
In addition to the above, visiting an eye doctor at least once a year can help diagnose any vision problems as soon as possible.
If you have already lost some vision due to diabetes, there are ways to control this. Your doctor can send you to a vision rehabilitation clinic.
Special devices, glasses, contact lenses, and other treatments can also help improve the vision that the patient still enjoys.
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