Some of the longer term health issues associated with diabetes are also applicable to non diabetics, glaucoma and cataracts for example, but they are more common and occur earlier in people with diabetes.
However, both diabetics and those who do not have the disease are easily treated for both these conditions, but there are other eye diseases where treatment for a diabetic individual is likely to be less successful than for a non diabetic.
Only affecting duabetics, retinopathy is perhaps the biggest threat to the diabetic's eyesight.
Some years ago, retinopathy almost always ended in going blind, but fortunately that situation has changed. In the UK, the General Practitioner Contract states that diabetics must have the back of their eyes checked on initial diagnosis, and then on an annual basis thereafter.
Most local surgeries have the necessary equipment to perform the examination, so no hospital visit is required.
The examination consists of dilating the patients retinas so that a picture of the back of the eye can be taken. The picture is then examined by eye specialists who check for any damage to the optic nerve. Over time these pictures can be examined as a group to see if there has been any degradation.
High blood pressure, smoking and drinking all contribute to the causes of retinopathy. Retinopathy also puts you at increased risk of heart attacks and kidney disease and failure.
Retinopathy can be treated, but not by drugs. Corrective treatment involves the use of lasers, which can lead to a very slight loss of field of vision and night vision, but it is small, and preferable to the alternative of blindness.
At the end of the day, avoiding the long term health complications of diabetes is perfectly possible if one simply maintains control of one's blood glucose levels, and takes the prescribed medicine.
However, both diabetics and those who do not have the disease are easily treated for both these conditions, but there are other eye diseases where treatment for a diabetic individual is likely to be less successful than for a non diabetic.
Only affecting duabetics, retinopathy is perhaps the biggest threat to the diabetic's eyesight.
Some years ago, retinopathy almost always ended in going blind, but fortunately that situation has changed. In the UK, the General Practitioner Contract states that diabetics must have the back of their eyes checked on initial diagnosis, and then on an annual basis thereafter.
Most local surgeries have the necessary equipment to perform the examination, so no hospital visit is required.
The examination consists of dilating the patients retinas so that a picture of the back of the eye can be taken. The picture is then examined by eye specialists who check for any damage to the optic nerve. Over time these pictures can be examined as a group to see if there has been any degradation.
High blood pressure, smoking and drinking all contribute to the causes of retinopathy. Retinopathy also puts you at increased risk of heart attacks and kidney disease and failure.
Retinopathy can be treated, but not by drugs. Corrective treatment involves the use of lasers, which can lead to a very slight loss of field of vision and night vision, but it is small, and preferable to the alternative of blindness.
At the end of the day, avoiding the long term health complications of diabetes is perfectly possible if one simply maintains control of one's blood glucose levels, and takes the prescribed medicine.
About the Author:
Toby has had type 2 diabetes for over 3 years now. He also suffers from hypertension caused by the disease. To help with this condition, he relaxes by making round table cloths. This helps him relax when he is tense. Making round table cloths is a good way to combat stress.
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