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The EYES have it.  If you have diabetes you would want to keep it that way!  It is known that diabetes can seriously damage a variety of your bodies systems.  People who are diabetic are already at risk for complications with their kidneys, heart, and blood vessels.  It’s important to learn what you can do to learn how to keep your eyes on the prize, which is keeping your eyes healthy with living with diabetes.   

How can diabetes hurt your eyes?

There are very small blood vessels in your retinas, which help you to sense light through your eyes.  High blood glucose levels can damage them over time causing them to swell and become weaker.  This means blood cannot reach your eyes as well.  New blood vessels can form but the down side to this is that they are just as weak as the old blood vessels.  As the problem gets worse, they can break and leak blood into the vitreous of the eye where there is fluid.  If blood gets mixed in her you could possibly see dark floating spots.  Overtime the amount of scar tissue that builds up may pull the retinas away from the back of the eye.  This will result in flashing lights.  This requires immediate medical attention.  

What signs to look for?

•  blurry or double vision
•  rings, flashing lights, or blank spots
•  dark or floating spots
•  pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
•  trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

How do you prevent problems with diabetes with your eyes?

• Get an eye exam once a year
• Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor or have worked out.
• Be active a total of 30 minutes most days.
• Take your medicines as directed.
• Check your blood glucose every day. Each time you check your blood glucose, write the number
         in your record book.
• Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or sore toenails.
• Brush and floss your teeth every day.
• Control your blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Don’t smoke.

What else should you know?

Ask your doctor about glaucoma: The optic nerve can become damaged and cause you to loose sight from the sides of your eyes because of the pressure on it.

Ask your doctor about cataract: This clouds your vision and can usually be corrected with surgery.

For more information please visit www.womenshealth