Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is the damaged retina that is closely associated with diabetes. It’s more likely to occur in those who have had diabetes for a long time. With each year of living with the disease the risk factors go up. It is preventable with early detection though.
In the beginning stages if Diabetic Retinopathy there aren’t really any symptoms other the some occasion blurry vision. As the disease progresses other symptoms may appear:
- Dark spots
- Blurred vision on a more regular basis
- Poor color perception
- Vision loss
There are three types of treatment for this condition:
- Laser surgery is the first option. It’s used to slow vision loss by reducing the retina’s demand for oxygen. It’s used to prevent further damage, but is not a cure for Diabetic Retinopathy.
- The second treatment option is corticosteroid injections. Though these can also slow the process of vision loss down, steroids can present other eye problems, so these should be used with caution.
- Virectomy is the third option. This is the process of removing the clear gel in the eye and replacing it with a saline solution.
The main causes of Diabetic Retinopathy are the sugar spikes and poor blood sugar from consuming high fructose foods and not controlling diabetes. Managing diabetes is the key to preventing Diabetic Retinopathy. This means increasing fiber, grains and protein, balancing carbohydrate intake, getting exercise, reducing fat intake and losing weight. Controlling diabetes is the key to preventing blindness.