Diabetes And Eye Disease
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage from diabetes to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals, which are sent to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy is a main cause of decreased vision or blindness in Americans ages 20 to 74 years. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at risk of this condition. The chance of developing retinopathy and having a more severe form is higher when: You have had diabetes for a long time Your blood sugar (glucose) has been poorly controlled You also smoke or you have high blood pressure If you already have damage to the blood vessels in your eye, some types of exercise can make the problem worse. Check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program. Other eye problems that can occur in people with diabetes include: Macular edema. Blurry vision due to fluid leaking into the area of the retina that provides sharp central vision. Retinal detachment. Scarring that may cause part of the retina to pull away from the back of your eyeball. High blood sugar or rapid changes in blood sugar level often cause blurred vision. This is because the lens in the middle of the eye cannot change shape when it has too much sugar and water in the lens. This is not the same problem as diabetic retinopathy. Continue reading >>
Why People With Diabetes Suffer From Puffy Eyes
Eye puffiness is commonly experienced by all of us. It can be caused by a number of causes, most of which are benign. However, if the patients with diabetes suffer from puffy eyes, they should take more care of it. Puffy eyes in Diabetes may be a sign of kidney problem. The tiny blood vessels in kidneys can filter blood and maintain useful substances in body. However, if blood sugar is out of control, high blood sugar can put extra strain on kidneys. Over time, it can lead to progressive kidney damage. As a result, a large amount of proteins will leak into urine through the filters in kidneys. A drop protein levels in blood can cause water to penetrate into subcutaneous tissue, leading to puffy eyes. Kidney problem is commonly seen in people with more than 10 years history of diabetes. Kidney disease in diabetes usually develops asymptomatically. Microalbumin in urine is the first sign of diabetes Kidney Disease. So the patients with a long history of diabetes are recommended to take urine microalbumin test every three months. Besides, puffy eyelids in diabetes may occur due to the following causes. 1. An allergic reaction occurs when immune system overreacts to a perceived threat. It also can cause eye swelling and eye itching. 2. Retaining water might also cause puffy eyes in diabetes, particularly in the morning. If it occurs, this already that you are not probably getting sufficient water in your body. If this happens, make sure that you drink a lot of water. 3. Stye occurs if bacteria enter the eyelid through eyelash follicles. It can cause abscess, redness and pain at the site of swelling. Puffy eyes may be associated with diabetes itself or may indicate other issues. When you are experiencing it, you should go to see a doctor and fine its cause. If the treatment Continue reading >>
Symptoms Of Diabetes
It is possible to have diabetes with only very mild symptoms or without developing any symptoms at all. Such cases can leave some people with diabetes unaware of the condition and undiagnosed. This happens in around half of people with type 2 diabetes.1,2 A condition known as prediabetes that often leads to type 2 diabetes also produces no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes and its symptoms develop slowly.3 Type 1 diabetes can go unnoticed but is less likely to do so. Some of its symptoms listed below can come on abruptly and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.2-4 It is important to see a doctor if there is any suspicion of diabetes or if any of the below signs and symptoms are present - prompt diagnosis and management lowers the likelihood of serious complications.5 The most common symptoms are related to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), especially the classic symptoms of diabetes: frequent urination and thirst. Fatigue related to dehydration and eating problems can also be related to high blood sugars.5,6 The International Diabetes Foundation highlight four symptoms that should prompt someone to get checked for diabetes as soon as possible:1 Common symptoms of diabetes The most common signs and symptoms of diabetes are: Frequent urination Have you been going to the bathroom to urinate more often recently? Do you notice that you spend most of the day going to the toilet? When there is too much glucose (sugar) in your blood you will urinate more often. If your insulin is ineffective, or not there at all, your kidneys cannot filter the glucose back into the blood. The kidneys will take water from your blood in order to dilute the glucose - which in turn fills up your bladder. Disproportionate thirst If you are urinating more than usual, you will need to r Continue reading >>
Puffy Eyes Causes, Complications, Symptoms, And Treatment
Puffy eyes, or bags under the eyes, can occur for numerous reasons, and can even be hereditary. Puffy eyes are commonly associated with weakening of the muscles supporting the eyelids brought on by aging. As a result, fat that supports the eyes moves to the lower eyelids, making them look puffy. Fluid may also accumulate in the space below your eyes, also promoting the swelling. Cases when puffy eyes are associated with a serious medical condition are very rare. As a rule, it is a cosmetic concern. Causes and complications of puffy eyes Puffy eyes can be caused by a multitude of different reasons, sometimes occurring on its own or they may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Thankfully, having puffy eyes is seldom related to a serious medical problem and generally are the result of getting older and the changes in skin elasticity and firmness that processing time has on a person. The following are some potential causes of puffy eyes: Lifestyle Factors Includes lack of sleep, dehydration, excessive salt intake, and eyestrain due to overuse. Prolong crying can also lead to puffy eyes, as well as excessive alcohol and cigarette consumption over the long-term Injury Sustaining blunt trauma to the eye is among the more common causes of puffy eyes. Injury may also come in the form of chemical contact to the eyes, such as exposure to choline in pools and strong detergents. Excessive eye rubbing can also lead the eyes to take a puffy appearance. Allergies Puffy eyes are a common trait of allergic reactions, especially towards pollen. Infections Conjunctivitis is an infection of the eye that affects its outer layer called the conjunctiva. This condition is also commonly known as “pink eye” and are due viral infections in most cases. Skin Diseases The area around your ey Continue reading >>
Blurred Vision And Puffy Eyelids
WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms blurred vision and puffy eyelids including Diabetes, type 2, Transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke), and Nearsightedness. There are 29 conditions associated with blurred vision and puffy eyelids. The links below will provide you with more detailed information on these medical conditions from the WebMD Symptom Checker and help provide a better understanding of causes and treatment of these related conditions. Diabetes, type 2 Diabetes can make you feel hungry, tired, or thirsty; you may urinate more than normal and have blurry vision. Transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) Transient ischemic attacks cause headache, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, and more. Nearsightedness Nearsightedness is a common eye problem that causes blurry, distant vision. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) Pinkeye is redness and swelling of the membrane that lines the eyelid, called the conjunctiva. Hay fever Hay fever, an allergic reaction to outdoor pollens and molds, causes nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and more. Allergic reaction Allergic reaction causes sneezing, runny nose and hives and can lead to anaphylaxis, a whole body reaction. Sleep deprivation Sleep deprivation occurs when the lack of restful sleep is severe enough to compromise basic body functions. Eye injury There are many types of eye injury, and symptoms include eye pain, burning, irritation, bleeding, and more. Diabetes, type 1 Diabetes can make you feel hungry, tired, or thirsty; you may urinate more than normal and have blurry vision. Diabetic ketoacidosis Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include dry mouth, excessive thirst and urination, and more. Retinal detachment Retinal detachment causes floaters in your Continue reading >>
Diabetes Basics
Basics of diabetes Diabetes is a condition caused by lack of a chemical in the body (a hormone) called insulin. There are two major forms of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes eventually no insulin is produced and individuals require insulin injections for survival. It used to be thought this only presented in children, but it is now clear this can occur at any age. The other more common form of diabetes called type 2 diabetes occurs due to the body's resistance to the effects of insulin in addition to an insufficient quantity of insulin. However, in this type of diabetes there is usually some insulin produced. For both types of diabetes, blood glucose levels are elevated. Furthermore, people with diabetes are prone to certain complications not seen in those without diabetes. These complications involve the eye (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy) and nerves (neuropathy). People with diabetes also get early hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to early heart attacks and strokes. The good news for people with diabetes is that with proper care all of these problems can be avoided. Immediate medical attention Uncontrolled diabetes presents with frequent thirst and urination. Over time, patients will become dehydrated as the glucose is "spilling" over into the urine. If insulin deficiency is severe enough, fat stores are used for energy as glucose cannot get into cells. This problem is much more common with type 1 diabetes and is called "ketoacidosis". It can be diagnosed at home with a simple urine test. When significant ketones are found in the urine, it is important to be in touch with a physician immediately. There are other conditions that require immediate attention. Blurry vision in someone with known diabetic eye disease or someone with a long history of di Continue reading >>
6 Emergency Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of many serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and amputation. But by keeping your diabetes in check — that means maintaining good blood sugar control — and knowing how to recognize a problem and what to do about it should one occur, you can prevent many of these serious complications of diabetes. Heart Attack Heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death and disability in people with diabetes. Heart attack symptoms may appear suddenly or be subtle, with only mild pain and discomfort. If you experience any of the following heart attack warning signs, call 911 immediately: Chest discomfort that feels like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest, lasting for a short time or going away and returning Pain elsewhere, including the back, jaw, stomach, or neck; or pain in one or both arms Shortness of breath Nausea or lightheadedness Stroke If you suddenly experience any of the following stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately. As with a heart attack, immediate treatment can be the difference between life and death. Stroke warning signs may include: Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially if it occurs on one side of the body Feeling confused Difficulty walking and talking and lacking coordination Developing a severe headache for no apparent reason Nerve Damage People with diabetes are at increased risk of nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, due to uncontrolled high blood sugar. Nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes can cause a loss of feeling in your feet, which makes you more vulnerable to injury and infection. You may get a blister or cut on your foot that you don't feel and, unless you check your feet regularly, an infection Continue reading >>
Swelling (edema) And Diabetes - Swelling In The Legs, Ankles And Feet
Tweet Edema (known as oedema in the UK) is a build up of fluid in the body (water retention) which causes swelling. Edema commonly affects the legs, ankles, feet and wrist. Water retention is often treatable, with treatment varying depending on the cause. Symptoms of edema The main symptom of edema is swelling of the affected area. Other symptoms that may occur, along with swelling, include: Weight gain Aching limbs Stiff joints Discolouration of skin Hypertension (high blood pressure) What causes swelling in the legs, feet and ankles? Swollen ankles and legs will often be brought on, or aggravated, by long periods of standing. A number of medications can increase the risk of oedema. Such medications include corticosteroids, blood pressure medications and the contraceptive pill. Water retention may also be caused by a number of conditions including: A high intake of salt can increase the problems of swelling in people with kidney disease. Treatment for edema Treatment for edema may vary depending on the cause. Water retention may be resolved if the underlying cause can be adequately treated. Regular physical activity and preventing long periods of standing can help reduce water retention. A low dietary salt intake is advisable, particularly if fluid retention has been brought on by kidney disease. If you are overweight, weight loss can help with reducing fluid retention. Diuretics, also known as ‘water tablets’, help to remove fluid from the body and may be prescribed for some causes of oedema. Prevention You can reduce your risk of edema by taking steps to prevent kidney disease and heart failure from developing. This can be achieved through good control of blood glucose levels, regular exercise and a healthy diet. If you can avoid long periods of standing, this wi Continue reading >>
5 Signs Your Kidneys Or Heart Could Be In Trouble
5 Signs Your Kidneys or Heart Could be in Trouble Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause damage to both the heart and kidneys. If you have heart disease, it is likely that you have kidney disease and vice-versa. Many people dont experience severe symptoms until their kidney or heart disease is quite advanced, but there are some warning signs. Could you be ignoring them? Here are 5 clues that your kidney or heart may be in trouble: If your eyes are consistently swollen, especially in the morning, take note. This has been linked with kidney and heart disease. Because puffy eyes are linked with many other conditions, kidney disease and heart disease are often overlooked. High blood pressure (hypertention) is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and chronic kidney disease. Controlling high blood pressure by losing excess weight, exercising, not smoking, cutting back on salt intake and taking high blood pressure medications reduces the risk of these complications. Even borderline high blood pressure, or pre-hypertension, should be taken seriously, as it can inflict kidney damage. The kidneys filter wastes from the blood and remove excess water from the body via urine. When the kidneys arent doing their job, this fluid can stay in the system instead of being excreted. Swelling around the hands, feet, and ankles may be associated with kidney or heart failure and shouldnt be dismissed. Urinalysis or urine testing is used to look for abnormalities such as an excess amount of protein, blood, pus, bacteria or sugar. A urine test can help to detect a variety of kidney and urinary tract disorders, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, bladder infections and kidney stones. A trace of one type of protein, albumin in urine ( albuminuria ) is an early sign of chronic kid Continue reading >>
Eye Damage (diabetic Retinopathy)
Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in Canada. People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age and are twice as likely to develop glaucoma, but diabetes’ effect on the retina is the main threat to vision. Called diabetic retinopathy, this effect of diabetes on the eyes is the most common cause of blindness in people under age 65 and the most common cause of new blindness in North America. It is estimated that approximately 2 million individuals in Canada (i.e. almost all people with diagnosed diabetes) have some form of diabetic retinopathy. We are pleased to announce that Diabetes Canada and the Canadian Association of Optometrists have partnered to help optometrists educate their patients about retinopathy. What is retinopathy? Over time, diabetes can cause changes in the retina at the back of the eye. Your retina helps you see by acting like a film projector in the back of your eye, projecting the image to your brain. The change is called retinopathy and there are a couple of different types that affect people with diabetes. The macula, which is the part of your retina that helps you to see colour, becomes swollen (macular edema) and this can cause blindness. A second complication is the growth of new weak blood vessels that break and leak blood into your eye so the retina cannot project images to your brain (proliferative diabetic retinopathy). The result is a loss of sight. Diabetes causes changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. In the early stages, known as nonproliferative or background retinopathy, the arteries in the retina weaken and begin to leak, forming small, dot-like hemorrhages (blood flow from the ruptured blood vessel). These leaking vessels often lead to swelling (edema) in the retina and decreased Continue reading >>
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea – the clear covering over your eye – is slightly irregular in shape, preventing light from focusing properly on the retina in the back of your eye. As a result your vision may be blurry at any or all distances. Astigmatism can cause symptoms of varying severity, from headaches, eye strain and fatigue to blurred or distorted vision. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. Eye exams test for the condition and help your doctor provide a proper prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. Depending on life and the degree of astigmatism, some patients prefer corneal modification (i.e. LASIK or other refractive surgery) to improve vision quality. Blepharitis Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation – a long-term swelling – of the eyelids and eyelash follicles. It may be caused by seborrheic dermatitis, acne, bacterial infection, allergic reaction or poor eyelid hygiene. The eyes may become red or blurry, as well as tear frequently. The eyelids crust, flake, scale or redden, and the smooth inside lining of the lids may become rough. In more serious cases, sores can form when the crusting skin is removed, the eyelashes may fall out, the eyelids can deform, the infection can spread to the cornea, and patients often suffer from excessive tearing. Blepharitis can also cause styes, chalazions and problems with the tear film. Treatment and preventative care for blepharitis involves thorough but gentle cleaning of the eyelids, face and scalp. Warm compresses can be applied to loosen crust and dandruff shampoo can help keep the eyelids clear. This may be combined with antibiotics if a bacterial infection is causing or contributing to the problems. Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that weakens the blo Continue reading >>
Diabetic Macular Edema Causes And Symptoms
High blood sugar can lead to eye problems like diabetic macular edema (DME), which affects the blood vessels in the back of your eye. When it's not treated, you could lose some or all of your sight. DME starts when your blood sugar isn't well controlled. High blood sugar harms blood vessels throughout your body, like in your heart, as well as the small blood vessels in your retina -- the tissue at the back of your eye that sends images to your brain. Without healthy blood vessels, your retina can't work the way it's supposed to. Your body tries to help out by making more of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. But too much of it weakens those blood vessels. In time, they can tear and leak blood and fluid into your retina. Your retina will swell and get thicker, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. The leaking fluid also causes swelling in the macula, the place in the center of the retina that gives you sharp, clear vision. "Edema" is a medical word for swelling from extra fluid. So DME is a fluid buildup that makes your macula swollen because of diabetes. Diabetes is the main cause of macular edema. But it can happen for other reasons, too, including cataract surgery or other operations on your eyes, macular degeneration, swelling in the uvea (the middle part of your eye), and blocked veins in your retina or damage from radiation. Some medicines for diabetes, cancer, and multiple sclerosis can cause macular edema. Your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol get too high. Have had diabetic retinopathy for a long time Focal DME is small spots of fluid leaking. Diffuse DME has leaks and swelling throughout your macula. Your eyesight may be worse with diffuse DME. You could have DME and not know it because it doesn't hurt, and your vision Continue reading >>
Top 6 Causes Of Swollen Eyelids
You probably notice a bit of eyelid swelling when you glance at yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning. However, sometimes the swelling doesn't go away as your body wakes up from sleep. Most of us will experience swollen eyelids some time in our lives. Swollen eyelids usually cause a bit of anxiety as the cause is sometimes unknown and people around us can see it. Most causes of swollen eyelids are not serious. However, you should always consult with your eye doctor or family doctor to rule out more serious health problems associated with swollen eyelids. Here are a few common ones. Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell. The most common cause of eyelid swelling is eye allergies . Eye allergies sometimes cause significant discomfort, often interrupting daily activities with annoying symptoms such as eyelid irritation and swelling. Eye allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to a certain allergen. When exposed to the allergen, cells in the eyes release histamines and other chemicals in an effort to protect the eyes, causing blood vessels inside the eyes to swell, and the eyes to become itchy, red and watery. Prescription medications are highly effective in relieving symptoms. Antihistamines often reduce eyelid swelling caused by allergies rather quickly. A stye is caused by inflammation and bacterial infection of the oil-producing glands in the eyelid. Styes are sometimes itchy and tender to the touch. Styes usually appears as a reddish bump on the eyelid. When a stye first develops , the eye may feel bruised and may feel sensitive to light. A chalazion develops when one of these glands becomes blocked. The gland develops into a hard lump and may result in redness and swelling of the eyelid. If you develop a stye, apply warm, wet compresses f Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Puffy Eyes: Causes And Treatment
Puffy eyes is commonly appeared on all of us due to staying up, eyestrain, bacteria, etc, most of which are benign. But if patients with diabetes suffer from puffy eyes, they should pay more attention to it because it is possible to indicate more severe condition. The causes of puffy eyes in diabets Puffy eyes in diabetes may be a sign of kidney problem. As we all know, diabetes is one of leading causes of kidney disease. Moreover, a person with long-term diabetes (5-10 years) can induce Diabetic Nephropathy, or Diabetic Kidney Disease. The kind of kidney disease can cause swelling due to excess sodium and fluid retention. As the kidneys are impaired, the fail to remove fluid from body properly. Due to gravity, fluid will accumulate around eyes during sleeping. So it can be more obvious in the morning. And along with loss of renal function, a large amount of protein will leak into through the filters (glomerulus) in the kidneys. And a drop protein levels in blood can cause water to penetrate into subcutaneous tissues, leading to puffy eyes. In addition to kidney disease, other causes like medications also can induce the swollen eyes. Since there are numerous causes of puffy eyes in diabetes, to relieve it, the first step is to find out the specific causes. If you do not know the causes, you can attach your test report to [email protected] or ask our online doctors directly. If your puffy eyes is related to Diabetic Nephropathy, a natural treatment called Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy can improve the secretory ability of the kidneys. It makes full use of Chinese herbal medicines and osmosis devices to stimulate the self-regeneration of impaired kidney tissues and enhance renal function. Along with the improvement of kidney function, the excess fluid can be expell Continue reading >>
Dry Eyes With Diabetes Mellitus
The metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus is one of the major public health problems of our time. Around eight million people in Germany suffer from diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (changes in the retina due to diabetes) is a consequence of diabetes which affects the eye, often accompanied by dry eyes. Diabetes mellitus: when the blood sugar gets out of control Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body can no longer adequately regulate the blood sugar balance. Therefore, the blood sugar levels of diabetics fluctuate enormously. This has severe repercussions on the whole body, among other things on the eyes. The reason for the restricted regulation of blood sugar is the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and ensures that the sugar, which goes into the blood from digesting food, is absorbed in the cells. The sugar is then stored in the cells as energy reserves and is released as required. Diabetics produce little or no insulin and in addition, the cells can often react a lot worse to insulin. They develop a resistance. The consequence: the sugar remains in the blood which, in the long run, leads to cell damage and changes in the blood vessels. People afflicted notice high blood sugar levels, for example through a constant urge to urinate and feeling very thirsty. The damage is irreparable and leads to serious consequences for organs and tissue. How strongly diabetes affects the body depends on how well blood sugar levels are managed and how long the disease persists. Diabetic retinopathy: severe changes to the retina due to diabetes Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the retina and one of the most common causes of blindness in people between 20 and 65. In particular, the fine blood vessels, the capillaries, are affected by high Continue reading >>
