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Diabetes

Diabetes is a common disease which occurs when the body does not process food properly to use as energy and this condition can also impact a person’s eyesight and overall health of the eyes.
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Importance of Diabetic Eye Exams

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Diabetes

Diabetes is a long term disease which occurs when there’s an issue with the way your body processes blood sugar, a crucial energy source otherwise known as glucose. Food that we eat is generally broken down into glucose which then travels through the bloodstream. When the blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas is activated and is supposed to release insulin which is an essential hormone that converts the sugar into energy for your cells. In diabetes, this process is impaired which can cause damage to various parts of the body, including the eyes. Diabetes can lead to a diverse number of eye problems such as cataracts, blurry vision, glaucoma and even diabetic retinopathy.

There is currently no cure for diabetes, however there are incredible treatments available to help control your blood sugar levels and insulin which can truly be instrumental in preventing various harmful complications to your eyes and other organs. If you think you or a loved one may have diabetes please book an appointment with your healthcare provider so that the proper measures can be taken to maintain your health.

We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you with our eye doctor who will monitor your eye health. It is recommended for diabetics to get annual eye exams unless your eye doctor recommends the visits to be even more frequent. If you think you have diabetes or have already been diagnosed with the condition and you experience any sudden vision changes, you must see an eye doctor immediately so that you can preserve your vision and the health of your eyes.

Types of Diabetes

There are different kinds of diabetes, but the two main categories are known as type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1: This is an autoimmune disease most commonly found in children or adolescents and is around 5-10% of diabetic cases. In type 1, the pancreas either has very little or no insulin at all, and therefore an outside source of insulin is required with daily injections.

Type 2: This accounts for approximately 90% of cases of diabetes and it occurs when the body does not produce or use insulin properly. It is more commonly found in adults above age 40 and occurs as a result of lifestyle and genetic factors. It is associated with inactive lifestyles and obesity.

There are two other kinds of diabetes which can be reversible. One is known as prediabetes which means that there’s a risk of becoming diabetic because your blood sugar levels are high, but not excessive enough to be considered diabetes. There is also a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy which is called gestational diabetes and it can go away once the baby is delivered. Women who are diabetic and become pregnant are at risk of experiencing more severe harm to their eyes and so they are usually monitored by an eye doctor more frequently in order to prevent serious damage.

All types of diabetes can affect your eyes so if you are at risk for any type of this condition or if you’ve been diagnosed with this disease, please book an appointment with your eye doctor who will guide you.

Symptoms

Diabetic symptoms usually depend on how high your glucose levels are. Type 2 and prediabetes could occur without symptoms and therefore it’s important to be monitored by healthcare professionals to find out if these conditions pertain to you without you being previously aware. In type 1 diabetes, the onset of symptoms is sudden and often drastic. Common symptoms of the different types of diabetes include:

  • Excess thirst and hunger
  • Constant need to urinate
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Tired and irritated feelings
  • Blurry vision
  • Sores that are slow to heal
  • Frequent infections

If you notice these symptoms or experience changes in your vision and find it difficult for you to perform your daily activities, please schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor besides meeting your healthcare provider.

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Diabetes optometry and eye care
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