Pregnant Women are at the greatest risk of developing Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is most common in pregnant women with diabetes. In fact, many women develop diabetes during their pregnancy. The reason being, often during pregnancy, the hormones inside the  mother to-be goes through various changes, which increases the chances of developing problems like hypertension and diabetes. That is why during pregnancy, doctors recommend some additional tests as pregnancy may worsen diabetic retinopathy.

 

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is more common in type II (life style diabetes) as compared to Type I cases (from early childhood).  In some rare cases the symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy are seen in the initial stages but generally only basic symptoms are visible such as dark spots floating in your vision, blurred and fluctuating vision, vision loss, difficulty with color perception; and dark or empty areas in vision.

There are majorly 3 types of Diabetic Retinopathy:

1. Clinically significant macular edema (CSME)- Usually characterised by swelling of macula, it is more common in people with type 2 diabetes. Patient suffering from this type faces problems like distorted or reduced vision.

2. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)- It is the first or early stage of Diabetic Retinopathy and can occur anytime after diabetes being diagnosed. In patients with type 1 diabetes, symptoms are rarewly seen even after diagnosis of the disease, whereas, in type 2 diabetes its symptoms are visible during diagnosis.

3. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)- Patients suffering from this type has the maximum risk of vision loss along with problems like retinal detachment or glaucoma.

The best antidote is patients diagnosed with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam once every year as the chances of having Diabetic Retinopathy increases with the time.  If diagnosed in time, your doctor can help you in preventing its progression. Remember the key is early detection and timely treatment as only this can prevent vision loss.

 

If you have diabetes, don't ignore these symptoms

Often in the initial years after being diagnosed with ‪Diabetes‬, the symptoms of ‪Diabetic Retinopathy‬ are not clearly visible, only mild ‪vision problems‬ are witnessed. And this is the gravest risk. Even a physician is unable to diagnose it easily. Diabetic Retinopathy is a silent killer whose damage cannot be stopped. This disease if not diagnosed timely, can even lead to permanent ‪‎vision loss‬.
 
If you have Diabetes, it becomes very important to undergo complete eye examination every year. In addition to this if you are observing ‪Central Vision Loss‬ while reading or driving, or ‪blurred vision‬ accompanied by problems such as ‪‎spotty vision‬ and ‪floaters‬, please don't ignore them and visit an ‪Eye Specialist‬ at the earliest.

Understanding Diabetic Retinopthy

Nearly half of India’s population is suffering from ‪Diabetes‬. And we all are aware of the fact that diabetes collectively cause damage to all our body organs, but the damage it does to our ‪eyesight‬ is just irreparable and can’t be set right by anything. According to a recent study, the cause of ‪blindness‬ in approximately 70 percent of adults above 40 years of age is due to ‎Diabetic Retinopathy‬.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a condition in which the blood vessels of the ‪retina‬ get damaged or blocked. When blood vessels get blocked, the blood supply to retina gets stopped, which ultimately leads to ‪vision loss‬. 

It is better to Prevent than Cure Diabetic Retinopathy

People with ‪Type 2 Diabetes‬ are at a much greater risk of having ‪Diabetic Retinopathy‬. Also, ‪‎Pregnant Women‬ having ‪‎diabetes‬ are more prone to developing this disease.

To prevent this disease, the first necessary thing is that as soon as you get to know about having diabetes, go for detailed ‪‎Dilated Eye Diagnosis‬ annually. Timely diagnosis and treatment can help prevent worsening of this disease. Diabetic patients should always keep their blood sugar level and blood pressure under control. Also, medicines prescribed by the doctor must be taken regularly. In addition to this, make sure to get a ‪Hemoglobin AC1 test‬ done twice a year and discuss the reports with your doctor.

This World Health Day, protect your eyes from Diabetic Retinopathy

It is saddening to read that on the occasion of ‪#‎WorldHealthDay‬, a story got published in Indian Express stating 'India among the top 3 countries with high diabetic population'. ‪#‎Diabetes‬ is a ‪#‎LifestyleDisease‬ that affects one's overall ‪#‎health‬. In fact, people who suffer from this disease are at a great risk of developing serious eye problems, ‪#‎DiabeticRetinopathy‬ being the most threatening of them.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease in which the blood vessels reaching the ‪#‎retina‬ are constricted and the flow of blood is hampered due to which ‪#‎eyesight‬ starts becoming weak. Most dangerous part is that in the initial stage, it is extremely difficult to identify it. And till the time it is discerned, the condition is usually very serious and holds a grave risk of complete ‪#‎vision‬ loss as well.

Affects of Diabetes on eyes

Given our stress filled lifestyle,Diabetes is already becoming a norm.Where it has affect on liver and heart,it affects eyes too.Rather eyes are much more affected. Retionpathy is the commonest eye problem associated with Diabetes.This affects small veins in retina and the blood supply to the eyes get affected.There symptoms include black spots blocking your vision,blurred vision,sometimes able to see properly and sometimes not,drastic changes in the reading ability.The best way to prevent retinopathy is to keep diabetes in check.Remember vision once lost can not be restored back.Its treatment includes laser treatment but this too works only when some vision is left.Best is you feel any changes in the sight and you are a diabetic,meet the Doctor immediately.
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