Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects the eye. The cause is the injury to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue located at the posterior of the eye. Initially, diabetic retinopathy may not exhibit any symptoms or may only cause minor visual impairments. However, it may lead to blindness.

Individuals who have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing the condition. The probability of developing this eye complication increases as the duration of diabetes and the level of blood sugar control decrease. Fortunately, there are a few precautionary measures that can be taken to prevent diabetic retinopathy. The following are a few of the most popular:

The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is elevated when blood sugar levels are not maintained. For this reason, it is recommended that you either use a continuous glucose monitor or check your blood sugar levels multiple times per day. For anyone who is stressed or ill, it would be ideal to check it more frequently.

It is advised that you make every effort to ensure that your blood sugar levels remain within the healthy target range. This level is typically between 80 and 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) before meals and does not exceed 180 mg/dL within 1-2 hours of each meal.

A diet high in salt or sodium can lead to high blood pressure. It is feasible that you may not manifest symptoms that suggest an issue. In this regard, it is recommended to use herbs and seasonings for flavoring purposes rather than salt. Furthermore, the health of the microscopic blood vessels in your eyes can be enhanced by reducing inflammation through the consumption of low-salt diets.

Your physician can administer a hemoglobin A1c test to ascertain your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. One of the goals is to maintain an A1c score below 7%; however, it may be elevated if one is elderly or has supplementary health conditions. It is imperative that you consult with your physician to determine your precise A1c objective.

If you already drink, it is ideal to do so in moderation. Limit the intake of one serving per day for women and two servings per day for men. Alcohol can lead to dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar or reduce the effectiveness of diabetes medications. However, it is crucial to moderate one's wine consumption, as recent research suggests that it may even prevent diabetic retinopathy.