Did you know that diabetes can cause eye disease? If left untreated, it can cause vision loss or even blindness.
To help you keep your vision healthy, here are five things the National Eye Institute (NEI) would like you to know:
- People with diabetes may face several eye problems as a complication of this disease. They include cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults age 20–74.
- Anyone with diabetes is at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy, including people with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely the person will get this eye disease.
- In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms. A person may not notice vision changes until the disease advances.
- If you have diabetes, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic eye disease can be detected early and treated before noticeable vision loss occurs.
- Stay on TRACK. Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor; Reach and maintain a healthy weight; Add more physical activity to your daily routine; Control your ABC’s—A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels; and Kick the smoking habit.
To learn more about eye health and diabetes, visit www.nei.nih.gov/diabetes.
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