How to Care For Your Eyes After a Diabetes Diagnosis

If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you may want to talk to an optometrist. Diabetes is a leading cause of vision loss and could potentially damage the blood vessels in your retina. Visit Middletown Eye Care if you need a vision exam. We have locations in Middletown and New Castle and consistently provide high-quality eye care for our patients.

Managing Your Diabetes

High blood sugar can impact the health of your eyes, which is why it's important to manage your diabetes. To prevent damage to the retina blood vessels, you should aim to keep your A1C levels below 7%. You should also minimize your intake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can worsen diabetes symptoms.

Exercise and a healthy diet are effective tools for diabetes management. Staying hydrated can also reduce the risk of vision complications. People with diabetes are more likely to become dehydrated due to their high blood glucose levels. If you don't drink enough water, it could reduce the water content of your blood, which could impair your blood vessels.

Monitor Your Vision With Eye Exams

In addition to taking steps to reduce the risk of diabetes complications, you should closely monitor your vision. If your eyesight starts to become worse, or if you notice unusual symptoms, such as seeing spots or flashes of light, you should schedule a vision exam with an optometrist as soon as possible.

Even if you don't notice any changes in your vision, annual eye exams will help your eye doctor identify issues early. While diabetic retinopathy cannot be cured, early detection will allow you to manage your condition more effectively, which could keep it from becoming worse.

Reduce the Risk of Diabetes Complications

Diabetes can cause serious vision problems, which is why you should take care of your eyes after your diagnosis. Middletown Eye Care can provide regular eye exams and help you monitor your vision. Call our Middletown office today at (302) 378-8818 or our New Castle office at (302) 276-0170. You can also reach us through our website by using our online contact form.