Blurred vision is a common symptom of diabetes
that helps doctors arrive at a diabetes diagnosis. This condition
occurs when your blood sugar level is higher than it should be. The
increased level of sugar in your blood causes the lens of your eye to
become enlarged. The problem is temporary and will pass as soon as your
blood sugar levels return to a healthy level (about 90-130 mg/dL).

Most diabetics only experience blurred vision when they eat foods
that are high in sugar, or in the first few weeks/months that they have diabetes and before they begin treatment. By eating low-sugar foods and taking appropriate medication, diabetics will be able to control the levels of sugar in their blood, thereby controlling the swelling of the lens.

Cataracts (cat-a-rakts) are spots on the lens of
the eyeball that lead to cloudy and distorted vision. A normal lens is
clear in order let light into the eye. Just like on a car windshield,
when the lens gets foggy, it becomes difficult to see.

The eyeball consists largely of water and protein. Cataracts form
when the protein clumps up because of poor circulation, malfunctioning,
and high blood pressure that damages small blood vessels. Treatment for
cataracts involves surgery and, in most cases, the use of glasses or
contact lenses. Cataracts may never go away permanently, but they can
be minimized with regular cataract treatment and by carefully
maintaining your nutrition, medication and exercise routines.

Glaucoma (glaw-koh-ma) is caused when fluid builds
up in the eyeball and puts pressure on the optic nerve. That pressure
can lead to both temporary and permanent damage that reduces vision.
Most people discover that they have Glaucoma only after they have
experienced a loss of vision and complete blindness. In fact, Glaucoma
is one of the leading causes of blindness in America.

However, if glaucoma is caught early enough, it can be treated
before the damage is permanent. Early detection signs include: blurred
vision, watering eyes, pain in the eyes, and halos around lights. The
most popular treatment for glaucoma involves laser surgery and close
monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Retinopathy (ret-n-op-uh-thee) is caused when high
sugar levels damage small blood vessels in the eyes. The retina (see
graphic) is a cluster of cells that convert light into images by using
rods and cones, which are cells that are named for their unique
shapes. The retina sends the visual message on to the brain through the
optic nerve, where the brain then translates the stimuli into usable
information. For example, the retina may register a cluster of red and
the brain may translate the cluster into an apple.

When the small blood vessels within the retina are damaged, the
diabetic will likely lose vision. Or have severely limited vision. This
form of blindness is irreversible, but can be avoided by carefully
monitoring your blood sugar levels. In order to manage your retinopathy, you need to first determine which kind you have (there are
three kinds):

Retinopathy affects Type 1 and Type 2
diabetics differently. When a person is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,
he or she will generally show signs of retinopathy at the time of the
diagnosis. (Retinopathy may even lead to a diabetes diagnosis). By
carefully monitoring blood sugar levels, Type 2 diabetics can slow the
progression of the condition, even when retinopathy cannot be reversed
altogether.

However, people with Type 1 diabetes generally take longer to get
full-blown retinopathy than Type 2 diabetics. The good news is that
Type 1 diabetics rarely get the condition before they reach puberty and
usually only develop retinopathy after they have had diabetes for five
or more years. Type 1 diabetics should know that as diabetes
progresses; the risk of permanent damage to the retina also increases.

According to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trail (DCCT),
Type 1 diabetics who control their blood sugar levels with intense medication reduce the risk of developing retinopathy and other complications (such as kidney disease and nerve damage) by 50-75%. 

You can do a lot to prevent diabetes eye problems.

• Keep your blood glucose and blood pressure as close to normal as you can.
• Have an eye care professional examine your eyes once a year.
• Have
  this exam even if your vision is OK. The eye care professional will use
  drops to make the black part of your eyes’ pupils bigger.

This process is called dilating your pupil, which allows the eye care
professional to see the back of your eye. Finding eye problems early
and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious
problems later on.

Ask your eye care professional to check for signs of cataracts and
glaucoma.What other eye problems can happen to people with diabetes?

You can get two other eye problems’ cataracts and glaucoma. People
without diabetes can get these eye problems, too. But people with
diabetes get these problems more often and at a younger age.

A cataract is a cloud over the lens of your eye, which is usually
clear. The lens focuses light onto the retina. A cataract makes
everything you look at seem cloudy. You need surgery to remove the
cataract. During surgery your lens is taken out and a plastic lens,
like a contact lens, is put in. The plastic lens stays in your eye all
the time. Cataract surgery helps you see clearly again.

Glaucoma starts from pressure building up in the eye. Over time,
this pressure damages your eye’s main nerve (the optic nerve.) The damage
first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes. Treating
glaucoma is usually simple. Your eye care professional will give you
special drops to use every day to lower the pressure in your eyes. Or
your eye care professional may want you to have laser surgery.

If you are planning to get pregnant soon, ask your doctor if you should have an eye exam.

If you are pregnant and have diabetes, see an eye care professional during your first 3 months of pregnancy.

Don’t smoke.

To Reduce Your Blood Sugar Exercise & Test Your Blood