Diabetic Eye Problems—Diabetes

Also called: DM, Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. One type of test, the A1C, can also check on how you are managing your diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your blood glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• A1C test (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Blood sugar test – blood (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Choose More than 50 Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes – NIH – Easy-to-Read (National Diabetes Education Program)
• Diabetes (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes – keeping active (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes – low blood sugar – self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes – tests and checkups (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes – when you are sick (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes and exercise (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Giving an insulin injection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• High blood sugar (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Diabetic retinopathy

If you have diabetes, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your eyes. The most common problem is diabetic retinopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness in American adults.

Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly. Diabetic retinopathy damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina.

You may not notice it at first. Symptoms can include

• Blurry or double vision
• Rings, flashing lights, or blank spots
• Dark or floating spots
• Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
• Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

Treatment often includes laser treatment or surgery, with follow-up care.

Two other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes. A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye. Surgery helps you see clearly again. Glaucoma happens when pressure builds up in the eye, damaging the main nerve. Eye drops or surgery can help.

If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Diabetes – eye care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes and eye disease (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diabetes eye exams (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Fluorescein angiography (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intravitreal injection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Laser photocoagulation — eye (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Standard ophthalmic exam (Medical Encyclopedia)