Author: Eric Johnson
Date: December 30, 2021

6 Best Eye Care Tips For People With Diabetes

If you have diabetes- a disease in which your blood sugar level is too high -you are more likely to develop many eye diseases. Over time, high blood sugar levels can rupture and damage tiny blood vessels in your eyes over time, leading to diabetic retinopathy and causing the development of cataracts and glaucoma, which happen earlier and more frequently. You will probably face some complications such as vision loss or blindness If these eye diseases go undiagnosed and untreated by an eye care specialist for an extended period of time.

The good news is that you can significantly minimize your developing eye problem and effectively preserve the healthy condition of your eyes and vision. Ejones Opticals, the best eye care unit near you that specializes in eye health exams and treatments, Here's a quick glance at how you can take care of your eyes when you have diabetes:

diabetes

Control Blood Pressure and Sugar

High blood pressure, which is common for people with diabetes, combined with high blood sugar, can damage the delicate blood vessels in your retina, which eventually impairs vision. To lower the risks of the onset of Diabetic Retinopathy and vision impairment, keep your blood pressure at around 140/80 or below.

Normal blood pressure is just as important as controlled blood sugar in preventing diabetes-related eye complications.

Maintain an A1C level of less than 7% to reduce the damage caused by high blood sugar to the blood vessels in the eye. A1C is a blood glucose test that determines a person's average blood glucose level.

Keep the cholesterol levels in check

LDL, or bad cholesterol, damages blood vessels, so you should keep your LDL under control. You can keep track of the cholesterol levels in your body through a blood test.

There are numerous methods for lowering cholesterol levels in the body. The most effective ways are exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy foods, all of which are covered in the points below.

Quit smoking and alcohol consumption

Smoking and alcohol are harmful effects for anyone, especially for people with diabetes, as they have high blood glucose levels than that of a non-smoking person with diabetes.

While smoking has not been shown to increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy, it has been linked to several other health problems, including disease of the small blood vessels. Equally important, people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a stroke or heart attack, and smoking can significantly raise that risk. Don't give up, whether you're a smoker or alcohol addict and have tried to quit or want to quit for the first time. Talk to your healthcare team about your options.

Exercise Regularly For Better Eye Care

Frequent physical activity and regular exercise can help improve glycemic control, which is one of the factors that determine the likelihood of developing diabetes-related eye damage. Make it a habit to exercise for 60 minutes every day, do at least three times a week. Be sure to treat it like an important appointment that can alter your current lifestyle.

If you are still mapping out an exercise routine, begin by walking 20 to 30 minutes per day. If your schedule needs to be readjusted slightly, divide it into two 15-minute sessions. Because, When you exercise regularly, the oxygen content in the blood increases. This way, the blood vessels (including in the eyes) become healthy.

Exercise regularly doesn't mean you have to do the gym and lift the weight. Simple cardio such as running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling for one hour every day is sufficient for staying healthy.

Eat Healthy Food and Balance Diet

Eat only healthy food, and a balanced diet is the single best way to maintain good eye health. It is a long-term process of preserving the condition of your eyes that can start with eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.

The most important vitamins for eye health are vitamins A, C, and E and B vitamins like B3, B6, B9, and B12. Other beneficial compounds that can protect your eyes from damage include lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc. Here is a list of foods that you might find useful:

  • Vitamin A: Fill your plate with orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, and apricots, as well as eggs, kale, or spinach, to increase your vitamin A intake.
  • Vitamin C: Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables include papayas, oranges, lemons, melons, blueberries, blackberries, kiwis, broccoli, and cauliflowers.
  • Vitamin E: Nuts, nut oils, avocado, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, quinoa, brown rice, and whole oats are rich in vitamin E.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, fish oil, and flaxseed oil are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin: The yellow antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, peas, and avocados.
  • Zinc: Food promoting zinc is kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, cashews, mushrooms, seafood, beef, lamb, and chicken.

Have an eye exam once a year

In its early stages, diabetic eye diseases don't usually alarm symptoms. However, visiting your ophthalmologist at least once a year for a comprehensive eye exam that includes a glaucoma test, a cataract test, and a dilated eye exam allows them to detect signs of damage before you notice any minor changes in your vision.

Have a complete eye exam every year. This way, you will track the changes in the eyes/vision and the symptoms associated with Diabetic Retinopathy. If you have diabetes and do not have your eyes checked regularly, the chances are that you will be diagnosed with eye complications after it has worsened.

The most common type of eye exam is dilated eye exam. During the exam, the doctor dilates the pupil(s) using special eye drops to check the early signs of damage to the blood vessels.

A helpful tip: If you notice any changes in your vision, do not wait until your next appointment to schedule the necessary eye health exams.

Get Your Eye Checked today.

If you have diabetes and want to take care of your eye health, get your eye assessed at Ejones Opticals – the leading eye clinic in Kerala!

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