3 Things You Should Never Do if You Have Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes. Over time, too much sugar in your blood can damage your retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye. This occurs because diabetes impacts all blood vessels in the body, including the tiny ones that go to your retina. These changes can cause the blood vessels to become blocked and leak fluid or blood.
If you’re at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy or have already been diagnosed with the condition, it’s crucial to prioritize your retinal health. Let’s review four things you should never do if you have diabetic retinopathy.
1. Improperly Manage Your Diabetes
Anyone with any type of diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. However, you can lower your risk by properly managing your diabetes. That means keeping your blood sugars within a healthy range, staying physically active, eating a well-balanced diet, and carefully following your doctor’s instructions for your insulin or other diabetes medicines. If you already have the condition, properly managing your diabetes can slow its progression and help preserve your vision.
2. Smoke
According to the CDC, smoking is one major contributing factor to developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, people with diabetes who smoke are more likely than those who don’t to have trouble managing their condition. If you have diabetes and smoke, quitting can benefit your health right away, making it easier to manage your diabetes and slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
3. Push Off Your Regular Retina Specialist Visits
Some patients in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy don’t even realize they have it, as there aren’t usually symptoms. However, if you push off regular retina specialist visits, you may not get properly diagnosed and treated until the condition has caused irreversible damage to your vision. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can also lead to other serious eye conditions, including diabetic macular edema (DME), neovascular glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.
People with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Some patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy may need a comprehensive dilated eye exam as often as every two to four months. The sooner your retina specialist diagnoses diabetic retinopathy, the better your treatment outcomes are. Common treatments include eye injections and laser treatment. More severe cases of diabetic retinopathy may require eye surgery.
Schedule an Appointment With a Retina Specialist Today
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition, and patients diagnosed with it should properly manage their diabetes, quit smoking, and see their retina specialist regularly. At Palmetto Retina Specialists, our experienced team can accurately diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient South Carolina locations.