7 ways to help prevent diabetic retinopathy

Regular eye exams, tight management of blood sugar, blood pressure along with a healthy diet… can prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes, causing vision problems and even blindness. However, you can reduce your risk of developing this disease in a number of ways.

Get your eyes checked regularly

High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in the eye, causing fluid and blood to leak in the retina, affecting vision. Patients should have regular eye exams and vision tests because diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in the early stages. For type 1 diabetes, have routine eye exams within 5 years of disease onset. Patients with type 2 diabetes should have their eyes examined as soon as they are diagnosed and regularly.

People with diabetes in general should see an eye doctor right away if they notice any changes in vision such as: black spots in front of their eyes, blurred vision, distorted vision (blur, double vision), slow adjustment in the dark , red and swollen eyes... Detecting changes as early as possible helps prevent or reduce vision risks.

Retinopathy that damages the blood vessels in the eye is a common complication of type 2 diabetes. Photo: Freepik.

Monitor blood sugar

One of the best ways to protect your vision and overall health when you have diabetes is to closely monitor your blood sugar. When blood sugar is kept under control, it's less likely to damage the lining of the eye's blood vessels or cause new blood vessels to grow abnormally in the eye.

Patients should regularly measure their blood sugar at home. If insulin is used more than once a day, it should be checked several times, usually before meals and at bedtime. People who have their diabetes under control with diet and exercise may not have to test their blood sugar every day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the goal of stabilizing blood sugar is: before meals, 80-130 mg/dL or 4.4-7.2 mmol/L; two hours postprandial is less than 180 mg/dL or less than 10.0 mmol/L. Target levels can vary based on age and other factors, and you can consult your doctor for an appropriate blood sugar target. In addition, every three months, the patient should have an A1C test to check the average blood sugar level for the past 3 months to ensure good control of diabetes.

Blood pressure management

People with type 2 diabetes often have high blood pressure, which affects the cardiovascular system and vision. High blood pressure affects the delicate blood vessels in the eyes, which can leak and damage vision. Controlling blood pressure reduces the risk of developing retinopathy.

Control cholesterol

High levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) cholesterol are a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. People with type 2 diabetes who have high levels of bad cholesterol and lipids have a higher risk of vision loss. Treating high cholesterol, which can reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet has many benefits for type 2 diabetes and retinopathy. Eating lots of lean protein, fruits and vegetables helps people achieve a healthy weight, control blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. All of which reduce the risk of developing retinopathy.

Do exercise

Exercise helps you achieve better overall health. People with diabetes who are physically active tend to have less severe retinopathy. Exercise also helps lower A1C levels and body mass index (BMI).

No smoking

Smoking in diabetics increases the risk of damage to the blood vessels of the eye, even when there are no symptoms. This is what leads to diabetic retinopathy. For people with type 2 diabetes, smoking also increases the risk of developing many of the related complications.