Diabetic Retinopathy

Home Treatment

You can help prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Even if you have vision loss, it is important for you to be an active participant in your daily diabetes care. The following key points can help you maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

Keep blood sugar levels near normal

Keeping your blood sugar levels near normal is one of the most effective ways you can prevent diabetic retinopathy or delay it from getting worse. If you control your diet and get adequate exercise, you can help keep your blood sugar levels near normal.⁸

• If you do not have signs of diabetic retinopathy, keeping your blood sugar levels near normal can help lower your risk for developing the condition by 76%.³
• If you already have diabetic retinopathy, keeping your blood sugar levels near normal can lower your risk for progression of the condition by 54% if you have type 1 diabetes and 20% to 25% if you have type 2 diabetes.^{3, 2} For more information on controlling blood sugar levels, see the topics Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease.

Have regular eye exams

Your eye specialist can tell you how often you need to return for follow-up eye exams. Follow the schedule he or she recommends. Call for an earlier appointment if you notice any changes in your vision. These changes may be a sign that complications of diabetic retinopathy have developed. Remember, early detection and treatment can help prevent vision loss.

If you have diabetic retinopathy and are planning to become pregnant, have an eye exam sometime during the year before you become pregnant, and then have regular eye exams while you are pregnant.

If you have vision loss

You need to find ways to adapt so that you can use your remaining eyesight to its greatest potential.

• Have an eye evaluation. If your eye specialist has told you that your visual acuity is 20/70 or worse with glasses or contacts, have a complete low-vision evaluation done by a vision specialist. This evaluation will help you use your remaining vision and identify the kinds of vision aids that are most helpful for you.
• Make some changes. You can continue to do most—if not all—of your daily diabetes care and other activities even though your eyesight is not good and may fluctuate from day to day. Some simple tricks, such as using felt-tip markers to label your medicines and diabetic supplies, may be all that you need. If diabetic retinopathy has severely damaged your vision, there are vision aids that can help you with daily tasks. Use the information below to help you find the things that can help you remain independent and in control of your diabetes care.

  Caring for yourself when you have diabetes and poor vision

  Living with poor eyesight from diabetes

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: April 13, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Steven T. Charles, MD - Ophthalmology
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