Diabetes: The Disease That Can Change Your Life & Take Your Vision
When it comes to information, the internet is usually the first port of call. However, when it comes to a life-changing condition such as diabetes, the virtual world is littered with inaccuracies. West Boca Eye Center is committed to providing patients with expert advice to prevent or reduce the consequential effects the disease can have on eye health.
BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), 21.3 million US citizens have been diagnosed with diabetes. Estimates from the CDC state that another 7.2 million are undiagnosed, and an incredible 84.1 million have prediabetes— a pre-cursor to the disease where blood glucose is elevated but not to levels where the condition is diagnosed. With those figures, it's no wonder the disease is one of the most common online searches when it comes to ill health.
While it's positive that so many are researching their well-being, the internet minefield contains many inaccuracies. When it comes to illness and disease, such misinformation could influence or prevent people from seeking the correct advice. Leading ophthalmologist in Boca Raton, FL, Brent Bellotte MD, is committed to helping sufferers and anyone who's affected or concerned about the condition to understand the facts and take the necessary steps to reduce the chance of diabetes causing life-changing sight problems.
Diabetes And The Eyes
Diabetes is a condition where the body can't regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood. There are two forms of the disease: Type I and Type II. The first is where the body can't create insulin, a hormone vital for the metabolism of sugar. Type II is when insulin isn't produced in large enough amounts or is ineffective. Both types have an impact on the health of the eye, with a range of risks that come under the umbrella term of "diabetic eye disease".
When blood sugar rises without being monitored there are both short and long-term effects. The increased levels of glucose can cause blurred vision in the short term—something that usually reduces when the sugars normalize. If the levels are allowed to remain high they can cause damage to the blood vessels at the back of the eye. These can leak, swell, scar, and cause high pressure within the eye itself.
Problems that can occur over time include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. When these diseases are not treated or monitored properly, they can lead to blindness.
Preventative Steps
While this might seem to be cause for alarm, those with diabetes and prediabetes can take positive steps to reduce or prevent such eye conditions from occurring. By far the most effective means to do this is to manage blood sugar levels, reduce any hypertension (a condition that often goes hand in hand with diabetes), take steps to lower high cholesterol, quit smoking, and to have a dilated eye exam on an annual basis.
The latter is a vital method by which any signs of diabetic eye disease can be determined at the earliest stages. At the beginning of a decline in eye health, there may be no symptoms, and only a professional examination of the eye can see the initial minute changes. Working with a specialist eye-health provider, such as Brent Bellotte MD at the West Boca Eye Center, allows for ongoing individual assessment as to the risk factors, current damage, and treatments that might be necessary to ensure the very best vision on an on-going basis.
Professional Assessment For Peace Of Mind
Online information about diabetes and eye health ranges from accurate to the downright dangerous. The evolution of the disease varies in each individual, making the services of a professional eye clinician essential to ensure the best eye health as the condition progresses. When it comes to eyesight, the worst-case scenario of mismanaged diabetes is a complete loss of vision. Even blurred and reduced visual fields are hugely life-changing but, thankfully, this can often be avoided with careful management.
The importance of not allowing misinformation online to cloud a decision to seek professional advice cannot be stressed enough. For the ultimate diabetic eye-health treatment and preventative management, the advice of leading ophthalmologist Brent Bellotte M.D. is second to none. Find out more at https://westbocaeyecenter.com
SOURCE West Boca Eye Center
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