Many people with diabetes have an eye condition known as diabetic retinopathy. This eye disease occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina, the tissue that lines the inside back of the eye. These vessels may leak, damaging the retina and causing vision loss. In order to prevent vision changes from diabetic retinopathy, you should keep your blood sugar levels under good control and focus on eating a healthful diet.
Symptoms
Diabetic retinopathy typically causes slow, progressive vision loss. As a result, many people who have early diabetic retinopathy do not notice symptoms, but their eye doctor will discover the eye disease during an examination. If symptoms appear, you may notice blurry vision, missing areas of vision, poor night vision or many new floaters, explains MedlinePlus. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience any or all of these symptoms.
Blood Sugar Control
In order to prevent diabetic retinopathy or slow the effects of the disease, you should make sure you keep your blood sugar levels under control. This may involve making sure that you take all medications prescribed by your health care professional. Your doctor will also recommend eating a healthful diet and maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle to help control blood sugar levels and reduce your risk for diabetes-related conditions, reports MedlinePlus.
Food Choices
A dietitian or health care provider can help you determine your nutritional needs, including the calories you should consume and the best food choices for your overall health. In general, most diabetics should consume whole grains, including brown rice and whole-wheat pasta. As well, you should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Choose lean, healthy proteins, such as fish, chicken breast or legumes, and use healthy oils, like olive oil. Eating a variety of foods will help ensure that you have an adequate intake of the nutrients your body needs for health.
Planning Meals
Planning is an important aspect of a diabetic's diet. To help control blood sugar levels and prevent damage to the eyes and other areas of the body, you may need to take time each day to plan meals for the next day. You should aim toward eating meals around the same time each day, as well as eating approximately the same amount daily, explains the American Dietetic Association. This will help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce high and low levels that could lead to blood vessel damage, which includes the vessels in the eyes.
Considerations
Work with your doctor to make these changes to your diet and lifestyle. Your health care provider will help you increase your activity level and help you make the best dietary decisions to control your blood sugar levels. If you experience sudden changes in vision, new floaters in your vision or missing areas of vision, contact your eye doctor immediately.
