Eye health and diabetes
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Email“The Eyes are the window to your soul” is a quote by William Shakespeare that many of us are familiar with. This quote definitely applies to eye health and can be a window to your health status. Many physical conditions may be diagnosed during an eye exam.
Eye care is important, especially for people with diabetes. In many cases, diabetes may be diagnosed by your eye doctor before you are aware you have the disease. This is because uncontrolled blood sugar may cause changes to the back of the eye, or retina. These changes go unnoticed since they are minor at first, but over time that may lead to damage that may result in blindness. This is why it is essential for everyone to have a yearly eye exam, especially for people with diabetes.
This change in the health of the eye’s retina is called retinopathy and is one of the serious complications of uncontrolled diabetes. People with diabetes are also more prone to developing cataracts and glaucoma. Whether you develop this eye condition may depend on how well controlled your blood sugar is, the status of your blood pressure and your genetics. All three of these factors play a role in the health of your eyes.
In addition to scheduling a yearly eye exam, you should report any unusual eye symptoms to your doctor. These may include:
- Changes in your vision such as blurriness
- The appearance of floaters which look like black specks of lines in your line of vision
- Flashes of light
- Difficulty seeing at night
As part of a healthy lifestyle plan, all people with diabetes need to follow recommended guidelines. In addition to your yearly eye exam and dental check, you also need to be aware of your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and albumin levels. Every three to six months, you should have your A1C checked to determine the history of your past blood glucose levels.
With careful management of your diabetes, including planning and eating healthy meals and participating in daily physical activities, side effects from uncontrolled diabetes can be avoided.
You only have two eyes, so make sure they are getting the best care you can provide.
For more information and programs on health and diabetes, please visit Michigan State University Extension.
