subject: How to Prevent Blindness Caused by Diabetes [print this page] How to Prevent Blindness Caused by Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Diabetes is classified into two types
Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin.
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Diabetes leads to a number of problems, including diabetic retinopathy -- which is one of the leading causes of adult blindness. It is a disorder of the blood vessels in the retina of patients with diabetes mellitus.
Your risk of diabetic retinopathy increases with the duration of diabetes. About 60% of patients with diabetes for 15 years or more will have damage to the blood vessels in the eyes when the sugar levels in the blood gets too high.
See your eye doctor for a yearly dilated eye exam - even if your vision seems fine - because it is important to detect diabetic retinopathy in the early stages
You must control your blood sugar level to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Blood sugar levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose checking.
People with diabetes monitor blood glucose levels several times a year with a laboratory test called the HbA1C (Haemoglobin A1c). Results of the HbA1C test reflect average blood sugar over a 2- to 3-month period. The HbA1c is the best single measurement available to clinicians to assess your overall diabetes control and the risk of complications of diabetes.
In general an Hba1c of 6.5% represents 'good' control, a level of 7% 'satisfactory' or 'fair' and a level greater than 7.5% is indicative of poor control.
4 KEYS AND MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO CONTROL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL
1) Healthy diet
2) Regular exercise
3) Regular checking of blood sugar level
4) Maintain healthy body weight
In short, keeping blood sugar level under tight control is one of the best way to decrease the incidence and/or severity of vision problems due to diabetes.
BLINDNESS CAN BE PREVENTED, Start action now as the RISK OF BLINDNESS INCREASES WITH DURATION OF DIABETES.
Understand the ROOT CAUSES of diabetes and get PROVEN METHOD to control your blood sugar level visit http://www.controlmydiabetesnow.com
