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Diabetes retinopathy is a major cause of vision loss in diabetes. It can lead to complete blindness if not identified and treated in a timely manner. This blog provides a thorough overview of diabetes retinopathy, including stages, symptoms, herbal diet plans, treatments, and screening.
What exactly is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when retinal blood vessels are damaged as a result of high blood sugar levels, causing eye conditions to leak, sweep, or shut off, leading to vision impairment.
Who Might Be at Risk?
Individuals who have had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes for longer than five years
Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Delays in diagnosis due to missed eye exams
Consuming alcohol and smoking
awareness about the disease progression
Common Symptoms
Unclear eyesight
Difficulty in dim light.
Colors dull in appearance.
Vision and sight completely get lost.
Diabetes retinopathy challenges faced by patients
Changes in vision suddenly; daily routines get affected.
Night vision gets really hard; chances of getting accidents.
Progression of disease and lack of awareness
Non-checkup of missed eye exams so delays in diagnosis
Rural areas have limitations on accessing eye care specialists.
Injections and laser therapy are high in cost towards treatment.
Nutritional advice is not accepted due to food choices and struggling to get control on diets.
Permanent blindness risk gets emotional stress.
Diabetes retinopathy and its management.
- Control blood sugar strictly.
To slow further progression, maintain HBA1c 7%.
Blood glucose levels monitoring on use of SMBG.
- Management of blood pressure
To reduce retinal damage, keep BP below 130/80 mmHg.
- lipid and cholesterol control.
To prevent vascular damage, maintain cholesterol below 100 mg/DL.
- Treatments are done medically. ( if required)
Advanced cases: laser therapy (photocoagulation)
- monitoring kidney and nerve health.
Diabetes neuropathy and nephropathy are linked with diabetic retinopathy.
Screening on regular kidney functions (test on urine microalbumin). .
- Diabetes retinopathy diet management should be followed.
- Lifestyle management to reduce stress and anxiety.
Diabetes Retinopathy screening Essential test
- Dilation test opthalmogy; damage to the retina by or all blood vessels and swelling.
- Eye scan cross-sectional; to imagine on high resolution, thickening and swelling on to detect retina.
- Imaging to retinal blood flow: to highlight leaking blood vessels using of dye injection
- Assessment on every sight to detect and measure clarity of fission and sharpness.
- Screening test on Gluck as diabetes has a high risk on Gluck, so checks on pressure on the eyes are undertaken.
Western Diet Approach: Science-Backed Nutrients for Eye Health
Protect vision and control blood sugar Modern nutrition research key nutrients
- Foods which are in low glycemic index (GI): lentils, legumes, vegetables, and so on.
- Antioxidants (Vitamin C, E, Zinc): bell peppers, wulnuts, pumpkin seeds.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Tuna, flaxseeds, and Walnuts
- Lutein & Zeaxanthin (Eye Protectors): collard greens, Brussels sprouts , egg yolks and pistachio
- Plant-Based Protein Sources: Lentils, Peas. Snap peas,legumes.
Diabetes retinopathy, western and Mediterranean diets
Whole foods vs processed philosophy to the core
Diet Western + High in processed,deed sugars,fast foods & unhealthy fats.
Diets Mediterranean-unprocessed foods, antioxidantly rich & healthy fats, and focuses on whole grains.
| Phase | Western diets typical | Mediterranean diets typical |
|---|---|---|
Carbohydrate |
Simple carbs
white rice. White flour :pasta |
Complete grains: whole wheat, quinoa. |
Proteins |
Red meat
Processessd |
All lean protein options: fish, chicken. |
Fruits and vegetables |
Ready to eat foods.
Packed food and processed |
Green veggies and spinach. Bell peppers, okra,Fresh red and yellow fruits: apples, oranges. |
Fats |
Trans – fats
and saturated fats. |
Cold-pressed oils like olive oil and avacados oil. |
Calorific sugar content. |
Soft drinks,
sweets,
soda |
Natural sweets are available, like honey and fruits. |
Milk and their products |
Full cream milk |
Buttermilk |
Benefits of nutrition. |
No eye beneficts.
No key towards antioxidants. |
Omega 3s, lutein, zeaxanthin.
Antioxidant rich. |
Diabetic retinopathy impacts |
Inflamation.
Readily sugar spikes |
Controls blood sugar levels. Optimal for eye health. |
Frequently asked questions
The best outcomes are on early detection intervention, Timi Fly. Treatment with laser prevents further deterioration; it cannot fully gain back the vision.
Now laser surgery is helpful in delaying or stopping vision loss. Reducing swelling and leakage of blood vessels, it works in the retina.
In initial stages, with happy lifestyle changes
Blood sugar controls on regimes like diet, exercise, education, and activity slow down and reverse the damages, and if disease is uncontrollable and leads to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, chances of reverse are doubtful and lead to vision loss..
No. A major factor is uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Onset of diabetes duration is over ten years; risk is much higher.
High blood pressure and cholesterol risk is much more prone to vision loss.
Examination on regular eye checkups and managed on diabetes can lower the risk
Of retinopathy.
Conclusions
For a healthier future, better focused vision.
All that management of your health conditions depends on you.
Overnight does not happen; your vision is what your disease conditions left controlled throught out and does not heal in a day.
And if your care for your health is just slow, partial. half this progression to reverse was in your regular choices.