3 Important Actions That Can Prevent Diabetic Eye Disease

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Vision after Forty

Hello. My name is Lori Frank. I’m fifty-two years old. I had perfect vision until I turned forty-one years of age. It’s funny; you often hear how one's vision starts to change at forty. Well, I can tell you that statement sure has held true for not only me but friends and family too. I never worried about going for yearly eye exams until I noticed that it was getting harder to read road signs when driving. I got my first pair of glasses when I was forty-one, and I’ve been averaging a new prescription at least every other year since. I want to share some of my experiences when it comes to eye exams. I was frightened and wanted to put it off, but there’s really nothing to be afraid of. Moreover, to make things better, eyeglasses are a trend these days!

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3 Important Actions That Can Prevent Diabetic Eye Disease

11 June 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Diabetes can affect many parts of your body, including your eyes. It can cause blurriness, trouble perceiving colors, and even dark areas of vision. The best way to treat diabetic eye disease is to prevent it in the first place, which is possible through these actions. 

Control Your Blood Sugar 

A lot of diabetic eye problems are the result of high blood sugar. When these levels spike, you can damage your eyes' blood vessels and even suffer from blurry vision. You can easily combat these symptoms by controlling your blood sugar, which doesn't have to be too difficult. 

One of the easiest ways to manage your blood sugar is to limit the amount of carbs you take in. Try to keep a low-carb diet, which will involve eating things like spinach, kiwi, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, eggs, and seafood. Drinking plenty of water each day can also keep your blood sugar at a normal range and help you stay hydrated.

Stop Smoking 

Smoking leaves you more susceptible to many diabetic eye diseases, as it alters the way your body reacts and handles sugars. If you've picked up this bad habit, you need to drop it before it's too late.

Cutting out this addiction can be hard, but it is possible using the right tactics. For example, you can replace the nicotine from cigarettes with nicotine gum. Slowly but surely, you'll be able to wean off cigarettes. Patches have also proven effective for many hardcore smokers. Cognitive therapy may also be necessary for identifying smoking triggers and avoiding them each day.

Get Plenty of Exercise 

Getting plenty of exercise is instrumental in keeping your eyes healthy and helping them fight off various diabetic eye-related diseases. You don't even have to work out at an expensive gym, either.

Simple routines from home -- such as jogging in place or using a jump rope -- will suffice. The trick is finding a routine that works for your particular lifestyle and body. Try to stick to this exercise regimen several times each week, making sure your body gets plenty of rest in between each session. 

Diabetic eye disease is a serious condition to face, which is why you need to do everything in your power to prevent it from developing in the first place. This will involve some lifestyle adjustments on your part, dealing with your activity levels, diet, and bad habits. The more proactive you are, the less likely it will be that you'll develop this unwanted disease. You can contact your local ophthalmology services to find more information about diabetic eye treatment.