How To Exercise With Diabetic Retinopathy
It is important for people with diabetes to exercise. Regular exercise helps to control glucose and helps maintain good circulation throughout the body. It also decreases anxiety and generalized depression. Daily exercise needs to be part of the medical plan for anyone with diabetes. Working out with diabetes can sometimes be challenging, due to complications from the diabetes itself or from other conditions. Diabetic Retinopathy is one such complication that requires some research before beginning. In most cases, it is just fine for people with diabetic retinopathy to exercise. However, there are a few things you need to know. 1. Get your medical team to give you the okay to begin a program, and to outline any types of moves you should avoid. Your doctor or Certified Diabetic Educator should have the knowledge and resources to either advise you, or put you in touch with someone who can. 2. Your cardio workouts need to be steady, not the kind with sudden, intense bursts of energy. The High intensity Interval Training (otherwise known as HIIT) will not generally be recommended for you. A slow warm up and then a gradual increase toward your target heart rate is best. Stay at that rate for as long as you can and then slowly cool down. This allows your vascular system to adjust. Drastic blood pressure changes are not good for those with diabetic retinopathy. Walking, swimming, stationary bikes, and some home workouts will be great for you. 3. Weightlifting is okay as long as you remember: Do not power lift. That means keep your weights light. Do not hold your breath on the lift. Always keep your breathing steady and breathe out as you exert or lift. 4. For people whose sight is changing, or whose vision can be affected by blood pressure fluctuations, avoid exercises which Continue reading >>
Tips For Exercising With Diabetic Retinopathy
Tips for Exercising With Diabetic Retinopathy Tips for Exercising With Diabetic Retinopathy If you have diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels in your eye can swell, leak, and even bleed. Although you may be concerned that exercise can affect your eyes, neither aerobic exercise nor strength training have been shown to worsen vision, retinopathy, or eye swelling in people with moderate vision problems, according to exercise guidelines published by the American Diabetes Association in 2006 . However, "if you're in an exercise program and have diabetes eye complications, you have to keep up with scheduled eye exams, check your regimen with your eye-care specialist, and report any problems," says A. Paul Chous, an optometrist with a specialty in diabetes who is based in Tacoma, Wash. "Retinopathy is often more severe in people with high blood pressure and might be exacerbated by a sudden increase in blood pressure, which can occur during some exercises such as weight lifting," says Dr. Chous. "Exercise experts with training in diabetes care can advise you on what is safe and what is not, if you have complications." Patients with significant eye complications caused by diabetes are also advised to avoid kickboxing and other contact sports that could injure the eye, as well as anything that elevates blood pressure, such as weight lifting or sprinting. Many patients who have had laser surgery to stabilize blood vessels in the eye are advised to avoid vigorous exercise and contact sports until there's evidence that the laser treatment was effective, which can take several months, says Dr. Chous. Exercise decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis with the ophthalmologist treating the patient. All sports enthusiasts, with diabetes or not, should wear eye protection (such as Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes that damages the eye's retina. It effects half of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes. However, only 6% of diabetics lose their vision. Blindness is largely preventable if patient and the medical team work together diligently. Prevention relies upon the proper use of medications, daily blood sugar testing, correct lifestyle habits, diet and supplementation. Complications related to sugar/glucose imbalances in the blood can result in damage to the retina which may not be noticeable at first, but the consequences can get worse with time severely threatening vision. Next: Nutrition, vitamins, diet, & lifestyle for diabetic retinopathy. Symptoms It is possible to have diabetic retinopathy for a long time before you realize it. In many cases, the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are not apparent until the retina has been quite damaged and your sight has been compromised. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy and its complications may include: Blurry or distorted vision Difficulty reading and other close work Increased number of eye floaters Partial or total vision loss or what feels like a permanent shadow cast across your field of vision Eye pain Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy The blood/ocular barrier layer of the retina is a compound structure in the eye that prevents large particles in large capillaries from entering the retina. The retinal pigmented layer is responsible for the outer layer of this barrier and diabetic retinopathy incidence is related to its breakdown. 11 Photoreceptor cell death/damage may play a central role in deterioration of microcapillaries in the eye that leads to diabetic retinpathy. Their deterioration is another hallmark of development of the condition.12 Researchers now report Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Diabetic Retinopathy: Q&a
Q&A Menu To find the Q&As most helpful to you, please click on one of these subjects: How Does Diabetes Affect Eyes? Q: How does diabetes affect your eyes? — L.L., Connecticut A: Diabetes causes problems in the retina with what are collectively called microvascular abnormalities. The small blood vessels develop microaneurysms and leak blood. New blood vessel growth (neovascularization) occurs. Unfortunately, these blood vessels are weak and also leak. These leaks (hemorrhages) can cause irreversible damage to the retina and permanent vision loss. Patients with controlled diabetes do better than those with uncontrolled diabetes. However, even a person whose diabetes is under perfect control can still develop diabetic retinopathy — hence, the need for yearly retinal exams. — Dr. Slonim Q: Does diabetic retinopathy get progressively worse? — F.R. A: Yes. When left unrecognized and untreated, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and eventually lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy can even get worse despite use of the best treatments that currently exist for it. — Dr. Slonim Q: My father has type 2 diabetes and he is seeing double. We went to the hospital about a week ago and they said the diabetes had affected a nerve on the right eye. Can medicine get his sight back to normal? — W.C. A: Diabetes can affect any one of the three cranial nerves that are responsible for movement of the eyes. Diabetes is one of the more common conditions associated with sixth nerve (Abducens nerve) palsies. Paralysis of this nerve affects the lateral rectus muscle that allows the eye to look outward. There is no specific medicine for this. The paralysis can be temporary and last a few months or it can be permanent. — Dr. Slonim Q: Can diabetes cause you to have eye infections suc Continue reading >>
Top Five Steps To Help Prevent Diabetic Eye Diseases
If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk of developing certain eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. The good news is that you can preserve your vision and reduce your chances of eye disease. Follow these steps now to make sure you preserve your vision in the years to come. 1. Get a comprehensive dilated eye examination from your ophthalmologist at least once a year In its early stages, diabetic eye disease often has no symptoms. A dilated eye exam allows your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) to examine more thoroughly the retina and optic nerve for signs of damage before you notice any change to your vision. Regularly monitoring your eyes’ health allows your ophthalmologist to begin treatment as soon as possible if signs of disease do appear. 2. Control your blood sugar When your blood sugar is too high, it can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. High blood sugar can also damage the blood vessels in your eyes. Maintaining good control of your blood sugar helps prevent these problems. 3. Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels High blood pressure and high cholesterol can put you at greater risk for eye disease and vision loss. Keeping both under control will not only help your eyes but your overall health. 4. Quit smoking 5. Exercise Exercise is good for your eyes. It’s also good for your diabetes. Regular exercise can help your eyes stay as healthy as possible while helping to control your diabetes. If you have diabetes, you can preserve good vision. Make sure you actively manage your disease with your Eye M.D. so that you reduce your risk of eye disease. Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy
What is Diabetic Retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which diabetes damages the blood vessels in the eye and causes them to leak. This can result in vision complications and even vision loss. What Are the Causes? Individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when elevated levels of blood sugar weaken the blood vessels in your eyes. In turn, these weak blood vessels leak fluid into your eye and blur your vision. Who Gets Diabetic Retinopathy? People with diabetes who do not keep their blood sugar under control are the most likely candidates to develop diabetic retinopathy. What Are the Symptoms? Many diabetics do not display symptoms of retinopathy, and when symptoms like blurry or obstructed vision do occur, it generally means the disease has progressed to a fairly severe point. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important for you to get an eye exam with dilation once a year, so your doctor can look for signs of retinopathy. In some cases, your doctor will perform a test called a fluorescein angiography. This test uses dye to track circulation in your retinas and could provide a more definitive diagnosis. How Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Treated? Diabetic retinopathy is far easier to treat and has fewer complications when caught early. Of course, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help prevent and fight off the effects of diabetic retinopathy, but there is no sure-fire fix. Surgery may help with serious cases of diabetic retinopathy. Laser treatment has proven to be very effective at sealing leaking blood vessels, but success of this surgery can vary depending on how long the leak has been there. Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Prevented? The most effective way to reduce your risk of d Continue reading >>
Reversing My Diabetic Retinopathy
Sarah, also known as Sugabetic in the diabetes community, has lived with type 1 diabetes for almost 27 years! A long time. She’s a wife, a mother of two healthy kiddos, and one the best people to ask when it comes to weighing the differences between different insulin pumps, glucose meters, and CGMs…because she’s tried them all! In 2014, Sarah was diagnosed with “mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).” In a nutshell, NPDR is the milder form of PDR, which is the more severe progression of diabetic retinopathy. Both NPDR and PDR are eye conditions diagnosed when blood vessels within the retina have “changed,” explains the diabetic eye doctor: Normal retinal blood vessels are watertight and do not leak. In diabetes, the retinal blood vessels can become damaged and develop tiny leaks. This is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Blood and fluid seep from the leaks in the damaged retinal blood vessels, and fatty material (called exudate) can deposit in the retina. This causes swelling of the retina. When leakage occurs and causes swelling in the central part of the retina (the macula), it is called macular edema, and vision will be reduced or blurred. Leakage elsewhere in the retina will usually have no effect on vision. For people with diabetes, retinopathy can occur as a result of high blood sugars over the years or it can also occur in a person who has maintained very normal blood sugar levels but simply has a predisposition to developing retinopathy or other diabetes complications. Thanks to major developments and leaps forward in today’s medical technology, people with diabetes who catch the signs of NPDR early enough are presented with a tremendous opportunity: treatments that can actually reverse the damage that has occurred Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy - Prevention
There are steps you can take to reduce your chance of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy and its complications: Control your blood sugar levels. Keep blood sugar levels in a target range by eating a healthful diet, frequently monitoring your blood sugar levels, getting regular physical exercise, and taking insulin or medicines for type 2 diabetes if prescribed. Control your blood pressure. Retinopathy is more likely to progress to the severe form and macular edema is more likely to occur in people who have high blood pressure. It is not clear whether treating high blood pressure can directly affect long-term vision. But in general, keeping blood pressure levels in a target range can reduce the risk of many different complications of diabetes. For more information about how to control your blood pressure, see the topic High Blood Pressure. Have your eyes examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) every year. Screening for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems will not prevent diabetic eye disease. But it can help you avoid vision loss by allowing for early detection and treatment. See an ophthalmologist if you have changes in your vision. Changes in vision-such as floaters, pain or pressure in the eye, blurry or double vision, or new vision loss-may be symptoms of serious damage to your retina. In most cases, the sooner the problem can be treated, the more effective the treatment will be. The risk for severe retinopathy and vision loss may be even less if you: Don't smoke. Although smoking has not been proved to increase the risk of retinopathy, smoking may aggravate many of the other health problems faced by people with diabetes, including disease of the small blood vessels. Avoid hazardous activities. Certain physical activities, like weigh Continue reading >>
How To Prevent Diabetes | Exercising With Diabetic Retinopathy
Can you exercise with diabetic retinopathy? The simple answer is yes. However this is a serious condition that could be made worse if caution is not used. It is one of the major complications that could potentially happen to diabetics. Your retina is the tissue located at the back of your eye that is sensitive to light. When its healthy your vision is nice and clear. However, problems occur over time when the arteries supplying blood to the retina become blocked. This condition can be classified as non-proliferative or proliferative retinopathy. In the non-proliferative form of retinopathy the blood vessels at the back of the eye become blocked and begin to swell. This blockage is mostly caused by high levels of glucose being forced through tiny blood vessels. It can also be due to high cholesterol which indicates the importance of a proper diet. Fluid then leaks into the retina causing blurred vision. New blood vessels (capillaries) will form to take the place of the blocked ones but these can break which would lead to proliferative retinopathy which is a more serious condition. Proliferative retinopathy can actually cause vision loss. Exercising with non-proliferative retinopathy Both types of this condition will put certain restrictions on the forms of exercises you will be able to do. In the non-proliferative form of this disease you can have mild, moderate or severe retinopathy. With mild retinopathy you can take part in most forms of exercises with your doctors approval. In moderate and severe non-proliferative retinopathy you need to proceed with caution. Any exercise that increases blood pressure can exacerbate the condition. In the moderate condition you can generally take part in most exercises after getting clearance from your doctor. These include swimming, Continue reading >>
Best Eye Vitamins For Diabetics
Diabetes is a condition that is the direct result of having an excessive amount of glucose in the blood, which can affect many different areas of your body, including the eyes. It has been reported that the related conditions of the eyes that are directly related to diabetes are the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20 all the way to 74. In order to prevent blindness and other types of vision damage related to diabetes, you should talk with your doctor about the options that are available, including natural vitamins. Eye Disease Related to Diabetes The most common condition that affects the eyes and is directly related to diabetes is known as retinopathy. This is a disorder that will damage the actual blood vessels that are present in your eye’s retina. Additionally, the disorder will affect the tissue that provides the lining at the back area of your eyes. Sometimes, your doctor can correct the disorder with laser treatments that will eliminate the bleeding, as well as reduce the chance for further damage to the blood vessels. However, diabetics also run the risk of developing conditions and disorders such as glaucoma and cataracts, which can both reduce vision capabilities. But, it may be possible to take the matter into your own hands. If you’re serious and diligent about fixing your eyesight naturally, there are many vitamins that are available to help you to reduce and prevent the chance of developing eye conditions due to diabetes. How Vitamins Help Diabetic retinopathy cannot be aided by vitamins. However, antioxidant nutrients may help in the promotion of overall retinal health and reduce the chance of developing retinal damage. Some of the vitamins that have been proven to do this include vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E. These antioxidants will Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms And Prevention
Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Symptoms And Prevention Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness among working adults in developed countries such as Singapore and United States. It is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the eye. Diabetes is a systemic disease where your body is unable to produce enough insulin or use the insulin properly to normalize blood sugar level. According toU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this number will grow to 16 million by 2050! It is possible to have DR without knowing it due to the lack of early signs. As RD progresses, you may discover the following symptoms. If you do, check out with your doctor ASAP. Blank or dark areas in your field of vision Near vision problems unrelated to presbyopia Patients usually develop DR after 10 years of having diabetes (sometimes earlier). Uncontrolled diabetes allows unusually high levels of blood sugar to accumulate in and damage the tiny blood vessels in the eye. Some blood vessels are blocked completely. As more and more the blood vessels become clogged, the blood supply to the retina is cut off. To make up for lack of blood supply, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. However, these immature blood vessels are feeble and can leak easily. Such leakages cause several complications which may damage the eyes retina thus resulting in vision loss. Duration that the person is diabetic (longer = greater risk) Ethnicity (African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans have higher risk) Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) Also known as background diabetic retinopathy, is the earlier stage of DR. This condition is usually identified by the deposits formed around the retina due to leakage from the blood vessels. This leakage includes blood, Continue reading >>
Exercise In Diabetes
Adults should take at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. For people who need to manage their weight and are at risk of putting on weight and becoming obese, 45 to 60 minutes a day. For people who have been obese, or are still obese and have lost weight, 60-90 minutes a day. For older people the above recommendations are appropriate depending on their ability. Children should get at least one hour a day of moderate physical activity, which should include activities to improve bone health, muscle strength and flexibility at least twice a week. Moderate exercise is classified as brisk walking, playing golf, badminton, tennis (doubles), cycling, painting, decorating and hoovering. Moderate intensity activity will cause an increase in breathing rate, an increase in heart rate to the level where you can feel your pulse and a feeling of increased warmth, possibly sweating on hot or humid days. Doctors should recommend pedometerss ...at least they help increasing weight loss in the short term. They encourage an increase in exercise of about 26%. People with diabetes should buy a pedometer and generally need to try and walk 10,000 steps a day. 10,000 a day to keep the doctor away (about 5000 if you are not overweight). reduces breakfast novarapid 25%, with lighter breakfast Usual insulin with increase CHO for lunch If exercises before breakfast- Less sugary drink during the run - just as needed - normal insulin with breakfast after run Football team, both midfield player and goalie have type 1 and are treated with basal bolus insulin Pre match meal-- Midfielder reduces bolus insulin by 50-75% -- Goalie by 25% Pretraining meal-- Both midfielder and goalie reduce insulin by 40% -- And basal by 10% Rower...training - reduce insulin, more so if cold, hot or win Continue reading >>
- Get off your backside! It's madness for the NHS to spend millions fighting type 2 diabetes when the simple cure is exercise, says DR MICHAEL MOSLEY, who reversed HIS own diabetes
- This Diabetes Month, Don’t Forget About the Importance of Exercise for People with Type 1 Diabetes
- You CAN beat diabetes! Strict diet, exercise and drugs helps reverse type 2 diabetes
12 Natural Tips For Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention & Management
by Katherine Brind’Amour, PhD Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that can affect people with any form of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes. The condition is caused when blood sugar and blood pressure in the tiny blood vessels in the eye “spring a leak” and release blood into the eye. This leads to blurry vision, seeing floaters or even complete vision loss in severe cases. The tricky thing about diabetic retinopathy is that not everyone has symptoms right away. Many people may have some damage from this condition without realizing the cause, and still others may attribute the vision problem to something else, such as getting older. As many as 45 percent of the 29 million Americans with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, and half of them may not even know it. (1, 2) The good news is that people with diabetes can prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy through a variety of natural approaches. And if the disease does begin, there are natural ways to manage the condition and keep it from getting worse. The bad news? It requires long-term effort, since vision loss from diabetic retinopathy is a lifelong risk for people with diabetes. What Is Diabetic Retinopathy? To define diabetic retinopathy, you first have to understand diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body has difficulty making or using sugar (glucose). This leads to periods of high or low blood sugar, which can make it hard for the rest of the body to function at times. In diabetic retinopathy, high blood sugar starts to damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, which is part of the eye. The blood vessels may close or swell and leak. (3) The eye may also start to grow new blood vessels. These changes in blood vessel health eventually cause changes in vision. (4) Ther Continue reading >>
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that occurs in people who have diabetes. It causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious sight-threatening complication of diabetes. Diabetes interferes with the body's ability to use and store sugar (glucose). The disease is characterized by too much sugar in the blood, which can cause damage throughout the body, including the eyes. Over time, diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when these tiny blood vessels leak blood and other fluids. This causes the retinal tissue to swell, resulting in cloudy or blurred vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include: Seeing spots or floaters Blurred vision Having a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision Difficulty seeing well at night When people with diabetes experience long periods of high blood sugar, fluid can accumulate in the lens inside the eye that controls focusing. This changes the curvature of the lens, leading to blurred vision. However, once blood sugar levels are controlled, blurred distance vision will improve. Patients with diabetes who can better control their blood sugar levels will slow the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Often the early stages of diabetic retinopathy have no visual symptoms. That is why the American Optometric Association recommends that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination once a year. Early detection and treatment can limit the potential for significant vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. T Continue reading >>
Get Moving: Exercising With Complications
Get Moving: Exercising with Complications Different diabetic complications may require different modifications to your exercise routine, but if you can move you can still be active. The following are some general guidelines for safe physical activity with diabetic complications. Cardiac Complications: If you have cardiac complications, such as heart disease, you should have an evaluation to measure your blood flow, heart rate, and blood pressure during exercise. Your doctor can then recommend the length and intensity of your exercise sessions. If you are not sure if you have cardiac disease, you should have a stress test. If a stress test is not available, you should follow a low-intensity program. You should definitely obtain the stress test if you are older than 35, have had type 2 diabetes for 10 or more years, have had type 1 diabetes for 15 or more years, or have any additional cardiac risk factors. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD): PVD means poor circulation in your legs. The following are symptoms of PVD: cold feet, weak pulse in feet, numbness and tingling, weakness in the legs, burning or aching in the feet and toes, slow-healing leg and foot sores, and discoloration in the leg down to the toes. These occur because the lower leg muscles are deprived of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. PVD is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). If you experience these symptoms or have PVD you should be evaluated for CVD before exercising (1,2). Retinopathy: Retinopathy, or eye damage, can be either mild or severe, and either proliferative or non-proliferative. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in the eye leak fluid into the retina causing blurred vision. Proliferative retinopathy is present when the new, fragile blood vessels begin Continue reading >>
