Diabetes and Blindness
Diabetes is now the second leading cause of blindness in Texas!
Diabetes occurs when your body does not properly regulate the amount of sugar in your blood. When
there is too much sugar your blood gets thick like syrup. Thick blood is harder to pump through blood
vessels so poorly regulated diabetes damages circulation--your heart, kidneys, brain, feet, eyes, etc.
Damage can usually start in your eyes within 10 to 15 years of the onset of diabetes. What your eye
doctor will usually see first is broken blood vessels on the nerve layer of your eyes. When these vessels
break they leak blood into the nerve layer. That blood and the scar tissue that forms will gradually
lead to vision loss and even blindness for some people.
What can you do to postpone this condition?
1. Control your blood sugar the best you can! Your doctor will usually want your blood sugar to be
between 80 and 120 after 6 to 8 hours of not eating.
2. Have your eye health checked once a year, more often if your eye doctor recommends it.
(A dilated check up is usually best.)
3. Avoid smoking, beef, pork, poultry, fried foods, alcohol. Eat fruits, vegetables, and fish
within the limits of good blood sugar.
4. Get plenty of exercise. Walking 2 miles per day, 5 days per week is best if you are able to and
if your doctor approves.
5. Get plenty of rest and sleep.
6.Take whole food nutrients to protect your eye health and general health.
What can you do if loss of vision starts to occur?
1. See an eye surgeon specializing in diabetes to protect your eye health.
2. See an optometrist specializing in low vision to protect your eye sight.click here to edit text.
