November is recognized as Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness about all forms of diabetes, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

While most people are familiar with the term “diabetes,” it’s important to understand the condition in more detail. Diabetes is a medical condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is the primary source of energy for your body, and it comes from the food you consume. To help glucose enter your cells and be used for energy, insulin is required. However, in individuals with diabetes, either the body produces insufficient insulin or cannot use the insulin effectively. This causes the excess sugar to remain in the bloodstream, unable to be transformed into energy.

Managing diabetes is possible through proper diet, exercise, and medication. If blood sugar levels are not kept in check within the recommended limits set by your healthcare provider, prolonged high blood sugar can harm various organs, including the eyes. By following your personalized diabetes management plan and ensuring you visit your eye doctor for regular eye checkups, you can promote long-term eye health and vision.

Diabetic Eye Health & Diabetic Eye Disease

The reality is that diabetes-related eye diseases can lead to vision loss, but individuals with diabetes can reduce their risk by managing their condition effectively. Regular visits to our Waco eye doctor for eye exams can be a preventive measure against the development of these eye diseases.

Diabetic eye disease includes several conditions affecting the eyes:

• Diabetic retinopathy: This occurs when small blood vessels in the retina bleed or leak.
• Macular edema: This swelling happens alongside retinopathy when the blood vessels in the macula (the central part of the retina) leak, causing inflammation.
• Cataracts: This is the clouding of the eye’s lens, which can result in blurry vision.
• Glaucoma: This condition involves elevated intraocular pressure, which damages the optic nerve and can lead to the loss of peripheral vision.

Diabetes Eye Exams

With regular eye exams at our Waco office, you can prevent eye problems or keep them from becoming severe. A common misconception among those with diabetes is that an eye exam is only necessary when they experience symptoms. However, this is not true! A comprehensive eye exam is the most reliable way to detect early signs of conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Early diagnosis can make all the difference in preventing significant damage to your vision. During a dilated eye exam, our eye doctor will use advanced magnification tools to carefully inspect the inner structures of the eye, checking the retina for any signs of diabetic retinopathy and evaluating the optic nerve for potential damage.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the following guidelines are recommended:

• Individuals with type 1 diabetes should have their first diabetic eye exam within five years of diagnosis.
• Those with type 2 diabetes should see their eye doctor for their initial diabetic eye exam as soon as they are diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes can go undiagnosed for years, and eye damage can occur in that time.
• Women with gestational diabetes should undergo an eye exam during the first trimester of pregnancy.

After the first diabetic eye exam at our Waco office, we recommend that all adults with diabetes return annually for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

At Eye Fashion Optical, your family’s eye health is our priority. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us at 254-212-4332 or schedule an appointment online with one of our Waco eye doctors.