Type 2 Diabetes - Protecting The Health of Your Eyes
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your ophthalmologist and in some cases your optometrist, can perform an eye examination.
Having diabetes increases your risk of eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy.
In fact, it's often your ophthalmologist who first diagnoses your Type 2 diabetes, even though you may have had high blood sugar levels for a while.
Here are some steps you can take to help protect your eyes from problems...
Stop smoking.
Smoking increases your risk of several medical problems - it increases the number of free radicals in your body putting you on a faster track for complications.
Control your blood pressure.
If it's constantly high, the blood vessels within your retinas become damaged and blood flow is reduced.
Eat lots of leafy green vegetables, especially kale.
The vegetables with high levels of carotenoids, particularly zeaxanthin and lutein, will help you the most.
Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, also help protect your eyes from harm.
Being diabetic, its essential you control your blood sugar levels.
When your blood sugar is high, fluid is pulled from your retina making your vision blurry, damaging your blood vessels and reducing the blood flow within your retinas.
Zeaxanthin is the most powerful antioxidant carotenoid in your retina.
Your body can't produce this and you only take in small amounts from your food so supplements are needed.
Lutein is another strong antioxidant occurring naturally in your body, including your eyes.
It's also found in numerous foods such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, peas, broccoli, eggs and many other foods.
Apart from these tips, there are two relative newcomers to the science world that have proven even better for eye health.
These are astaxanthin and blackberries...
It's common to spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen - this is not good for your eye health...
Have your eyes monitored once or twice a year, or as your doctor suggests.
If you experience any changes to your eyesight, you should make an appointment immediately.
Having diabetes increases your risk of eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy.
In fact, it's often your ophthalmologist who first diagnoses your Type 2 diabetes, even though you may have had high blood sugar levels for a while.
Here are some steps you can take to help protect your eyes from problems...
Stop smoking.
Smoking increases your risk of several medical problems - it increases the number of free radicals in your body putting you on a faster track for complications.
Control your blood pressure.
If it's constantly high, the blood vessels within your retinas become damaged and blood flow is reduced.
Eat lots of leafy green vegetables, especially kale.
The vegetables with high levels of carotenoids, particularly zeaxanthin and lutein, will help you the most.
Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, also help protect your eyes from harm.
Being diabetic, its essential you control your blood sugar levels.
When your blood sugar is high, fluid is pulled from your retina making your vision blurry, damaging your blood vessels and reducing the blood flow within your retinas.
Zeaxanthin is the most powerful antioxidant carotenoid in your retina.
Your body can't produce this and you only take in small amounts from your food so supplements are needed.
Lutein is another strong antioxidant occurring naturally in your body, including your eyes.
It's also found in numerous foods such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, peas, broccoli, eggs and many other foods.
Apart from these tips, there are two relative newcomers to the science world that have proven even better for eye health.
These are astaxanthin and blackberries...
- anthocyanins are water-soluble antioxidants and are found in the highest amounts in blackcurrants.
They help provide collagen that maintains collagen which is the primary part of your eye's lens and supports the eye tissue. - astaxanthin contains 500 times more antioxidants than vitamin E.
It resembles lutein and zeaxanthin but is a more powerful antioxidant overall.
It's common to spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen - this is not good for your eye health...
- reduce the screen's brightness if you can - the glare should always be kept to a minimum
- you should take a short eye break every hour as a minimum
- close your eyes for a few seconds
- focus on other items in the room
- roll your eyes around
- gently massage your eyes if you feel the need.
Have your eyes monitored once or twice a year, or as your doctor suggests.
If you experience any changes to your eyesight, you should make an appointment immediately.
