| Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels. | | | | become blocked the retina becomes starved of blood |
| The hormone insulin is responsible for converting the | | | | and more blood vessels grow in response to this. |
| sugar level or glucose in blood into energy for the body | | | | These new blood vessels are thin and weak too. |
| to use as it sees fit. Insulin uses the glucose and hence | | | | As diabetic retinopathy becomes more entrenched it |
| reduces the blood sugar level. Excessive blood sugar | | | | enters a phase termed proliferative retinopathy. At this |
| can have serious consequences to the health. Thus | | | | stage the weakened and new blood vessels can leak |
| diabetes is a disease that interferes with the bodies | | | | blood into the vitreous humor or solution that is in the |
| ability to process sugar by impeding or destroying the | | | | eye. Depending on how severe this leakage is the |
| ability of insulin to work in the body. A person with | | | | sufferer can experience vision loss or blindness. |
| diabetes can suffer from many ancillary diseases that | | | | Prevention or management of the disease is better |
| are a consequence of diabetes. One such disease is | | | | than any treatment. The best way to prevent or at |
| known as diabetic retinopathy. This article will discuss | | | | least manage the condition is to keep blood sugar |
| diabetic retinopathy and it's causes. | | | | levels at a normal level as much as possible. |
| Diabetic retinopathy, as the name suggests affects the | | | | Commonly this involves eating the correct foods and |
| retina and the ability of the eyes to function normally. It | | | | plenty of exercise. As many diabetics are likely to |
| is often a consequence of having diabetes over a long | | | | suffer from diabetic retinopathy it is also a good idea |
| period of time. It is usually very hard to detect by the | | | | to get eye check ups regularly so that the condition of |
| individual until the condition has taken hold so diabetics | | | | the blood vessels around the retina can be monitored. |
| are always advised to get their eyes checked on a | | | | Treatments for diabetic retinopathy involve laser |
| regular basis. | | | | surgery that aims to shrink or seal blood vessels |
| High sugar levels in the blood are thought to damage | | | | around the retina but this can only stop the condition |
| blood vessels over time. This damage is particularly | | | | worsening. If vision loss has already occurred this vision |
| evident in the extremities of the body like the feet or | | | | will be lost for good. |
| on thin blood vessels that can be found around the | | | | Diabetic retinopathy is one of the more common |
| retina of the eye. | | | | diseases that will affect anybody that has been a |
| Over time micro aneurysms will occur on the retina's | | | | diabetic for any length of time. It is, effectively, blood |
| blood vessels. These are weaknesses in the walls of | | | | leaking into the eye which causes the eye to |
| the blood vessels that cause the vessel to balloon out | | | | malfunction and loss of vision. By living a healthier |
| in certain areas. These aneurysms are prone to burst | | | | lifestyle and consistently monitoring the condition of the |
| because they are thinner and weaker. Blood vessels | | | | eyes, diabetic retinopathy can be minimized and |
| around the retina also become blocked. As more | | | | treated. |