Diabetes Prevention, Management, and Avoiding Vision Loss

When you hear the word “diabetes” you may think about strict diets or glucose monitoring, but diabetes involves much more than just watching your sugar intake. Diabetes can impact the entire body—particularly the eyes.

This November we are sharing some important information for those living with diabetes and for those who may be at risk of developing diabetes. Luckily there are solutions available to help manage diabetes or potentially prevent it altogether.

Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to convert carbohydrates into energy. It is characterized by an inability to produce insulin or difficulty using it effectively. Insulin is necessary for converting glucose into energy. When we don’t have enough insulin or when our body uses it ineffectively, glucose can build up in the bloodstream. This is known as diabetes.

Those diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are unable to produce any insulin. A Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) diagnosis means the body is unable to produce enough insulin or does not use it effectively.

Prediabetes is another classification, which is considered a precursor to T2D. This indicates that blood glucose levels are higher than optimal, but not yet high enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes is more common than you may think, and it can be an effective warning sign to make diet and lifestyle changes that may delay the onset of T2D or prevent it altogether.

All types of diabetes have one thing in common — too much glucose in the bloodstream, which can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening health complications.

How Diabetes Impacts the Eyes

Consistently high glucose levels over a long period of time can cause damage to the kidneys, heart, feet, and eyes. Vision loss is one of the many complications that can occur from diabetes. Continuously high blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye that deliver blood and oxygen to the retina, which are essential for clear, healthy vision.

Compromised blood vessels are unable to effectively send blood to the retina, which can lead to vision loss or blindness. This is known as diabetic retinopathy, one of the most common types of diabetic eye diseases and the number one cause of preventable blindness in adults. One of our optometrists, Dr. Tisdale, offers some advice for preventing vision loss from diabetes.

“The most important thing is early detection. So, I’m always counseling my patients to call me immediately if they think anything has changed. And I’m also always communicating with their other care providers including their endocrinologist or primary care doctors to make sure that their whole medical team is in the loop.” – Chad Tisdale, OD

Even if blood sugar levels are well maintained, diabetics have unique vision care needs and should regularly see an optometrist. Some of the best ways to prevent vision loss from diabetes is managing your blood sugar and attending annual diabetic eye exams.

Healthy Habits for Diabetes Prevention and Management

Diabetic or not, there are many strategies you can implement to optimize your health. Here’s a look at some of the ways you can manage or possibly avoid the progression of prediabetes or T2D. As always, check with your doctor for a tailored approach that works for your specific health needs.

• Focus on implementing whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats into your diet.
• Limit sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and trans fats.
• Balance your meals with variety and diversity. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises structuring your meals with 50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% healthy carbohydrates, and 25% lean protein.
• Exercise regularly, aiming for 30 minutes of movement every day.
• Ask your doctor about supplements or medication to support your health journey.

And remember to schedule your annual eye exam to ensure any vision problems are detected early.

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