Diabetes has a lot of negative side effects on your body. One of them includes the harm that it does to your eyesight. Diabetic retinopathy is one such complication that is a result of diabetes. It is caused due to damage to the blood tissues at the back of your eyes.
If you suffer from high blood sugar, then you could be at a higher risk of developing it. Some of the major symptoms of it involve blurriness in the eyes and a loss of the ability to perceive various colors. In some extreme cases, it can even lead to blindness.
What Are The Best Ways To Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy?
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While moderate cases can be diagnosed through the management of diabetes, surgery might be required if the condition escalates. However, you can lower your chances of being exposed to this disorder by incorporating some changes into your lifestyle.
This article provides a comprehensive guide as to how to do that. So, without any further ado, let us dive in.
🔺Incorporate a healthy lifestyle:
One of the best ways to prevent diabetic retinopathy is by following a healthy lifestyle. This includes a range of things such as eating a balanced diet that steers clear of any unhealthy items like added sugars, trans fats, et cetera, taking a healthy route towards weight loss if you are overweight, especially if your BMI is above 25, exercising regularly and integrating a very active lifestyle and staying away from harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol.
Basically, avoid anything that does not contain a good amount of nutrients. Consume foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and other food items packed with nutrients. Keeps your intake of processed foods and take-out food to a bare minimum.
If you are someone who finds it hard to motivate themselves to work out, then consider joining a gym or even finding a workout buddy to can inspire to you burn those extra calories. Avoid adopting any unhealthy ways such as starving yourself or participating in any diet fads.
Consult your doctor while developing your meal plan and exercise routine, especially if you have to take insulin therapy. Try to burn more than half of the calories that you consume and ensure to practice a mindful way of living.
🔺Keep track of your blood sugar, pressure, and cholesterol levels:
- Your blood sugar levels are extremely important indicators of the efficiency of your diabetes control system. If you are monitoring your blood sugar levels at home, the make sure that it stays between 4 to 10 mmol/l. If you are getting it checked at the hospital, and they are testing your average blood sugar level over the past weeks, then the percentage should be around 6.5.
- In order to keep a close watch on your blood pressure level, you can either get tested at the hospital or you can purchase a blood pressure monitor, which is generally measured in millimetres of mercury. As a diabetes patient, your blood pressure should not exceed 140/80mmHg. If you suffer from any diabetes related complications, then this level may drop to 130/80mmHg.
- You can test your cholesterol levels and the GP surgery you regularly consult. For those who suffer from diabetes, it is generally advised to keep your cholesterol levels below 4mmol/l. If you find any inefficiencies in maintaining these levels, then immediately adopt healthy practised that can prove immediate and conclusive results in lowering them.
🔺Get a regular check-up:
Regardless of how efficient you think your system of managing your diabetes is, getting a regular screening is a very important step in preventing diabetic retinopathy. If you have even the slightest chances of developing this disease, then these screenings will help you identify quickly and enable you to take swift action. If you catch it early, the chances of treating it are very high. If you see any initial symptoms such as worsening vision, pain, or redness, then immediately get it checked. While this may not be caused by diabetes retinopathy, it is good to get it checked just in case.
Overall, it can be said that you incorporate some massive changes if you want to up your chances of preventing this disease. Following a healthy lifestyle should be your number one priority, and regularly monitor any indicators of the condition of your diabetes. Pay heed to any and all medical advice that you receive from your doctors and follow them consistently. Following all these could greatly improve your chances of preventing diabetes retinopathy, and you know what they say, ‘prevention is better than cure.
You Can Also Read: Does Diabetes Affect Eye Vision? Common Problems!
Reversal Urologist & prostate cancer researcher at Manhattan. Passionate about reconstructive & minimal invasive surgeries in Urology. Also a Certified Men’s Health Urologist specializing in Penile Implant Surgery, Male Fertility, Erectile Dysfunction, and Vasectomy. His Moto is to deliver evidence-based urology care ethically.