Eye & Foot Care For Diabetes !!
EyeCare for Diabetes
Diabetes can cause serious eye conditions that may result in sight loss such as diabetic retinopathy, temporary blurring and cataract.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can damage blood vessels. These vessels in the eyes are especially vulnerable to damage. One of the most serious complication of diabetes for the eye is the development of diabetic retinopathy. In the early stages of retinopathy, fluid can leak from small blood vessels in the retina. The macula is the center of the retina which controls our sharp reading vision.If fluid leaks from the macula, then objects may appear blurry.
Proliferative retinopathy is an advanced form of retinopathy. Proliferative retinopathy occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina and sometimes into other parts of the eye. If these vessels bleed into the vitreous - the clear fluid in the centre of the eye, light cant reach the retina and vision can become cloudy. The blood may be slowly re-absorbed and vision can return to normal, but if the bleeding continues, vision may be cloudy until the problem is treated. Tissue can also grow along with the abnormal blood vessels, distorting vision or making objects appear blurry. Over time, the tissue can shrink, pulling the retina away from its base.
If the blood doesnt reabsorb or if the tissue affects your vision, the vitreous may need to be surgically removed to avoid loss of vision. All these problems of the eyes can be prevented if timely treatment is sought for diabetes.
Early Detection is the key to prevention!
What you can do for your eyes?
- Carefully control the amount of glucose in your blood. Better blood sugar control lowers chances of retinopathy. Even if it occurs it will be later and milder.
- Visit the Doctor for a retina check before vision is affected
- Visit the eye doctor for a detailed retina examination at least once a year
- Maintain a control over blood pressure
- Maintain optimal lipid levels
- If there is even a minute change in vision see the eye doctor immediately
- Diabetics should go for an annual eye test with an optometrist (Optician)
Remember, YOU are the most important person caring for your diabetes. Timely actions upon the advice of a doctor can save your vision.
FootCare For Diabetes
Foot problems are common complications found in people with diabetes. But many of these complications can be addressed or prevented with proper foot care. Some of the problems that can arise include athletes foot (fungal infections), calluses, bunions, ulcers (which can be surface wounds or deep infections)
Foot problems in diabetes are preventable!
3 reasons why people with diabetes are at high risk for foot problems:
Foot problems in diabetes are preventable!
3 reasons why people with diabetes are at high risk for foot problems:
- Decreased circulation to the legs and feet
- Loss of the sensation in the feet
- Decreased ability to fight infection when diabetes is poorly controlled
These three problems often work together to make even a common occurrence like a callous, a threat to your foot and therefore your health. Due to numbness or a loss of sensory abilities in the feet one may not even be aware of a callous forming. As it becomes thicker, the tissue under the callous can be damaged. If the skin is very dry, cracking can occur, allowing bacteria to enter. Infection can easily develop. When there is decreased circulation or poor control of blood glucose, it is very hard for the body to fight this infection.
Without prompt treatment there is a serious risk of further damage to the tissue to create a condition called gangrene. If this happens it is not reversible and the only treatment is amputation.
In most cases, however, serious foot problems can be prevented. Keeping your blood glucose well controlled is crucial for general foot health and healing. You must also make foot care a part of your daily routine.
Without prompt treatment there is a serious risk of further damage to the tissue to create a condition called gangrene. If this happens it is not reversible and the only treatment is amputation.
In most cases, however, serious foot problems can be prevented. Keeping your blood glucose well controlled is crucial for general foot health and healing. You must also make foot care a part of your daily routine.
Foot care problems for diabetics
The combination of circulatory problems and poor sensation in the feet of a person with diabetes, predisposes them to injury, delayed healing, infection and gangrene.
It is very common to see poor blood circulation to the legs (also called Peripheral Vascular Disease or P.V.D) in people with diabetes due to advanced atheroscelosis. This problem involves both the small and large blood vessels of the legs and feet. When the vessels become clogged, a person experiences discomfort or pain in the thigh or calf muscles while standing, walking or exercising. The first physical sign of loss of circulation may be the loss of pulse in the feet. Therefore it is very important that your doctor checks your pulse in the feet every three months.
A good blood flow to the legs is always important, but it becomes even more so when extra blood is needed to heal an injury or fight any infection that might occur in the foot.
What can you do to prevent circulatory problems in the legs?
It is very common to see poor blood circulation to the legs (also called Peripheral Vascular Disease or P.V.D) in people with diabetes due to advanced atheroscelosis. This problem involves both the small and large blood vessels of the legs and feet. When the vessels become clogged, a person experiences discomfort or pain in the thigh or calf muscles while standing, walking or exercising. The first physical sign of loss of circulation may be the loss of pulse in the feet. Therefore it is very important that your doctor checks your pulse in the feet every three months.
A good blood flow to the legs is always important, but it becomes even more so when extra blood is needed to heal an injury or fight any infection that might occur in the foot.
What can you do to prevent circulatory problems in the legs?
- Avoid or give up smoking and tobacco
- Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
- Increase your physical activity levels. Exercise your legs once everyday when you are lying in bed. Lift your legs and fold them at the knee an then straighten them.
- Prevent obesity, lose weight if you are overweight
- Maintain a tight control of your blood sugar
- Maintain a tight control of your blood pressure
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Diabetes
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