Diabetic Eye Care Tips

Stephanie Modkins
Diabetic? Here are a few eye care tips for you courtesy of the American Diabetes Association. They are ones that can extend the life of your eyes and prevent or slow down certain side effect of your condition such as blindness.

1- Wear sunglasses.
When the weather is hot, wear sunglasses. Make sure they are ones with UV protection. This type of optical hardware will protect your eyes from the harmful effects of the sun.

2- See an optometrist.
One of the most important diabetic eye care tips is to see an optometrist on a regular basis. You should have annual visits, so this doctor can catch any problems early. Be prepared to answer any questions about your sight such as the appearance of black spots.

3- Follow a healthy diet.
Eat the kinds of foods - vegetables, fruits, protein, low carbs - that fuel your body and promote good glucose levels. A healthy diet can support the life of your eyes. You should also take supplements that make up for what you can't get from food.

4- Watch your blood pressure.
Unfortunately, diabetes and high blood pressure often go hand and hand, especially with type 2 diabetes. As a consequence, an important diabetic eye care tip is to keep your blood pressure under control through lifestyle or medication. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the retina; and, as a result, negatively affect your vision.

5- Control blood glucose levels.
High blood glucose levels can also damage the blood vessels in your eye. For this reason, do whatever is necessary to bring your blood sugar down to a normal level. Eat right, exercise and take your medication. Test often. Be mindful of your diabetes.

6- Get your eyes dilated annually.
During your annual eye exam, be sure your optometrist dilates your eyes. Most optometrists automatically follow this procedure for their diabetic patients. Why? Dilation allows them to see the muscle of the eye and find problems not as noticeable during a regular eye exam. This diabetic eye care tip is essential to the health of your eye.

7- Keep your medical appointments.
The final tip to taking care of your eyes is to keep all of your medical appointments with your physician. This is your first line of defense. If your diabetes is out-of-control, he'll be sure to get tests on every part of your body and rule out any damage.

Follow these seven diabetic eye care tips and keep your sight for the duration of your life. Don't let a disease take away something as precious as your vision.

Published by Stephanie Modkins

Stephanie M. is a freelance writer who lives in the northwest. Her main goal is to write in a way that entertains, educates or uplifts readers.  View profile

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