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Diabetic Grace Period? Don't Count On It!
Diabetes is a much bigger problem than you think. There are 21 million diabetics in our country and one-third of these people are unaware that they are diabetic! Nearly every organ of the body is damaged by the abnormal metabolic changes caused by chronic elevation of blood glucose, and the eyes often suffer terribly.
Did you know that vision symptoms typically precede the diagnosis of diabetes? Wild fluctuations in blood glucose change the water content of the crystalline lens inside the eye, and this abrupt shift alters the focusing power of the lens. If you experience intermittent fluctuations in vision check with your doctor and make sure you do not have diabetes.
Full-blown diabetics are susceptible to a long list of eye complications: cataract, glaucoma, bleeding, retinal edema, as well as the proliferation of abnormal blood vessels attempting to rescue the starving retina. Juvenile diabetics rarely have eye problems during the first twenty years. Adult diabetics usually coast for ten years, longer if they rigorously control their blood glucose. Oh, just one thing...there's a catch.
When do those 20-year and 10-year clocks start? Since we know one-third of all diabetics are unaware of their condition, the actual clinical diagnosis may not be established until year 2, year 5, maybe later. To further complicate things, more and more overweight teens are developing insulin-resistant Type 2 diabetes and never get that 20-year grace period.
So, what does this all mean? All diabetics need regular periodic visits to the eye doctor in order that any diabetic eye changes are promptly identified and treated. WebMD is loaded with helpful advice for diabetics and their families.
Related Topics: Prediabetes: 2 million US children, Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Did you know that vision symptoms typically precede the diagnosis of diabetes? Wild fluctuations in blood glucose change the water content of the crystalline lens inside the eye, and this abrupt shift alters the focusing power of the lens. If you experience intermittent fluctuations in vision check with your doctor and make sure you do not have diabetes.
Full-blown diabetics are susceptible to a long list of eye complications: cataract, glaucoma, bleeding, retinal edema, as well as the proliferation of abnormal blood vessels attempting to rescue the starving retina. Juvenile diabetics rarely have eye problems during the first twenty years. Adult diabetics usually coast for ten years, longer if they rigorously control their blood glucose. Oh, just one thing...there's a catch.
When do those 20-year and 10-year clocks start? Since we know one-third of all diabetics are unaware of their condition, the actual clinical diagnosis may not be established until year 2, year 5, maybe later. To further complicate things, more and more overweight teens are developing insulin-resistant Type 2 diabetes and never get that 20-year grace period.
So, what does this all mean? All diabetics need regular periodic visits to the eye doctor in order that any diabetic eye changes are promptly identified and treated. WebMD is loaded with helpful advice for diabetics and their families.
Related Topics: Prediabetes: 2 million US children, Childhood Obesity Epidemic
