Diabetes is being diagnosed in huge numbers across all ages and races. Saturated fats, simple sugars, super-sized portions, bulging waistlines, and lack of exercise are some of the known culprits. Whatever the causes, the increased incidence of diabetes means a corresponding increase in health problems related to the disease, including the sight-robbing complication of “diabetic retinopathy”—the leading cause of new cases of blindness in America.
Diabetic Retinopathy Normal Vision
Eye care specialists are fighting the battle to protect vision through education and the use of lasers and new medication injection treatments. Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group member and medical optometrist Dr. David Scheidt encourages patients to also take non-invasive steps of their own to prevent diabetic vision loss, including:
- Have a blood sugar test every three years to screen for diabetes after age 45 (The first step in preventing diabetes-related health issues is knowing if you have diabetes.)
- Keep blood glucose levels close to normal through diet, medication & exercise (Studies have proven that patients can cut their risk of blindness by up to 80 percent if they are able to achieve an excellent level of blood sugar control.)
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Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic Vision
Keep blood pressure low
- Keep cholesterol levels low
- Don’t smoke
- Check hemoglobin A1c levels at least every four months & aim for less than 7.0
- Schedule an eye exam if you become pregnant (Diabetic women are at increased risk of developing retinopathy during pregnancy; and those who already have retinopathy can experience worsening of their eye condition.)
- Schedule dilated eye exams once a year, or as often as your Eye M.D. suggests (Whether you have diabetes or not, you should have regular eye exams.)
