Diabetic Eye Disease: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in the US and worldwide. Diabetic eye disease is a complication from diabetes. Types of diabetic eye disease include
- blindness,
- background diabetic retinopathy,
- nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy,
- diabetic macular edema,
- proliferative diabetic retinopathy,
- cataracts, and
- glaucoma.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy includes blurry or hazy vision, difficulty focusing, and night glare from oncoming lights. Causes of diabetic eye disease occur over time due to hypoglycemia (high blood sugar) and other abnormalities in metabolism found in people with diabetes. Treatment for diabetes eye problems depends on the type of eye problem. Medication and surgery for diabetes eye problems may be necessary in addition to lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercise, quitting smoking.
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Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs when a person with diabetes becomes dehydrated. Causes of diabetic ketoacidosis include infection, missed insulin, or newly diagnosed diabetes. Some signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include excessive thirst, vomiting, confusion, dry skin or mouth, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency and if you think you or someone you know may be suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis call 911 or go to the nearest urgent care facility or emergency department. -
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Glaucoma Overview
Glaucoma can be caused by a number of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, typically by elevating pressure inside the eye, which is called intraocular pressure (IOP) or ocular hypertension. Symptoms begin slowly and include vision loss and irregularities, eye pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Beta-blockers, Alpha-adrenergic agonists, and prostaglandin analogs are drugs used to treat glaucoma. Sometimes surgery is necessary, especially with congenital glaucoma. The disease is not curable but can be managed. -
Glaucoma FAQs
Glaucoma is usually high pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve and can result in permanent vision loss. While high pressure inside the eye, damage to the optic nerve and vision loss are common criteria for diagnosing glaucoma, glaucoma can be present without all three of these criteria. The two main types of glaucoma are open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma. Glaucoma may be symptomless until significant permanent vision damage has occured, but may show symptoms as well, including pain, redness, haloes, and blurred vision. -
Understanding Glaucoma Medications
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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
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How Is Diabetic Macular Edema Treated
Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetes that can cause vision loss. Treatments for diabetic macular edema include anti-VEGF injections, anti-inflammatory treatments, vitrectomy (surgery to remove the vitreous gel between the lens and the retina), and laser treatments. -
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is caused by overmedication, use of certain medications, use of alcohol, missed meals, kidney or liver infection, and more. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include: trembling, clammy skin, palpitations, anxiety, sweating, hunger, and irritability. Treatment of hypoglycemia in a person with diabetes is glucose (sugar). If the cause is another disease or condition, treatment will depend on the cause of the hypoglycemia. -
Insulin Reaction
An insulin reaction occurs when an individual with diabetes experiences hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and becomes confused or unconscious. Causes of insulin reaction include improper medication dosing, exercise, or skipping meals. Common symptoms of a mild insulin reaction include dizziness, irritability, hunger, shakiness, rapid heart beat, and sweating. Treatment is generally sugar drinks, tablets, or wafers and monitoring insulin levels. -
Obesity
More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight, including at least one in five children. Nearly one-third are obese. Obesity is on the rise in our society because food is abundant and physical activity is optional. The safest way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Treatment may also include medications, surgery, and behavior modification. -
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Stroke
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Type 2 Diabetes
Learn the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, and dehydration. Type 2 diabetes causes and risk factors include older age, obesity, lack of exercise, family history, and excess fat around waistline. Treatments for type 2 diabetes are weight loss, a healthy diet, exercise, and medications if necessary. -
Weight Loss and Control
Obesity is simply the accumulation of excess body fat. It is much more than that, however. Obesity is a chronic (long-term) disease that is very difficult to treat. It takes 3,500 extra calories to gain 1 pound. To lose weight, you must eat 3,500 calories less than you need, say, 500 fewer calories per day for one week, to lose 1 pound. -
What Are the Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
An eye condition that can potentially lead to blindness, diabetic retinopathy typically occurs in people who do not control their blood sugar. There are four stages of diabetic retinopathy, which are categorized depending on the severity of symptoms. -
What Foods Should Diabetics Avoid
While there is no specific diet for diabetes, people with diabetes should generally limit sugar intake, limit or avoid sodium to keep blood pressure under control, limit starchy vegetables, and avoid high-fat or high-carbohydrate foods. -
What Foods Should You Avoid If You Are Prediabetic
Foods to avoid if you are prediabetic include sweets (pastries, cookies, cake, candy, pie, doughnuts), refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, bagels, crackers, pretzels), sweetened breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt, fried foods, fatty meats, jams, jellies, potato chips, snack bars, and others.
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What Foods Should Diabetics Avoid? While there is no specific diet for diabetes, people with diabetes should generally limit sugar intake, limit or avoid sodium to keep blood pressure under control, limit starchy vegetables, and avoid high-fat or high-carbohydrate foods.
Diabetic Eye Disease Topic Guide - Visuals
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Diabetic Eye Disease Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins
Medications:
PramlintidePramlintide is a man-made form of a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Pramlintide lowers blood sugar in three ways. It slows the rate that food mo...learn more »
Brimonidine And Timolol OphthalmicBrimonidine reduces the amount of fluid in the eye, which decreases pressure inside the eye...learn more »
Dorzolamide And Timolol OphthalmicDorzolamide and timolol ophthalmic (for the eyes) is a combination medicine used to treat certain types of glaucoma and other causes of high pressure inside ...learn more »
Carteolol OphthalmicCarteolol is a beta-blocker that reduces pressure inside the eye...learn more »
Betaxolol OphthalmicBetaxolol is a beta-blocker that reduces pressure inside the eye...learn more »
Timolol OphthalmicTimolol is a beta-blocker that also reduces pressure inside the eye...learn more »
GlimepirideGlimepiride is an oral diabetes medicine that is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus....learn more »
Pilocarpine OphthalmicPilocarpine ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to treat glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye)...learn more »
MethazolamideMethazolamide reduces the activity of a protein in your body called carbonic anhydrase. Blocking this protein can help reduce the amount of fluid in the eye...learn more »
FosinoprilFosinopril is an ACE inhibitor. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme...learn more »
AcetazolamideAcetazolamide reduces the activity of a protein in your body called carbonic anhydrase. Blocking this protein can help reduce the build-up of certain fluids...learn more »
Diabetic Eye Disease Topic Guide – Related Topics
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