Cataracts: Are Diabetics More At Risk?
As diabetics we all know how important it is to stay on top of our heath, but what about when it comes to our eyes? I make it appoint to see my eye doctor every six months just to stay on top of things. As diabetics are we more prone to certain conditions due to consistent high blood sugar readings? Lets take a closer look as the question of cataracts was recently brought to my attention.
So first off, what are cataracts? Cataracts are are just one one of the sight-related complications of diabetes. The closer you manage your diabetes, the more likely you are to avoid any diabetes complications.
However, understanding more about diabetes and cataracts may help you to identify this complication at an early stage and seek treatment.
Symptoms Of Cataracts:
During the early stages, cataracts may have little effect on vision. Symptoms vary due to the location of the cataract in the eye (nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular). Depending on the type and extent of the cataract, patients may experience the following symptoms:
- Cloudy vision
- Double or blurry vision
- Glare and sensitivity to bright lights
- Colors appear faded
- Difficulty reading due to reduced black-white contrast
Treatment Of Cataracts:
Cataracts never go away on their own, but some stop progressing after a certain point. But if cataracts continue to grow and progress, they can cause blindness if left untreated. Fortunately, cataracts can almost always be successfully treated with surgery. Millions of cataract operations are performed each year in the United States, and there is a very low risk for complications. However, before opting for surgery, patients need to consider on an individual basis how severely a cataract interferes with their quality of life. Cataract surgery is rarely an emergency, so patients have time to consult with their doctors and carefully consider the risks and benefits of surgery.
Tips On Preventing Cataracts:
- Take a good multivitamin. The Physicians’ Health Study of 17,744 U.S. doctors demonstrated that those taking multivitamins, especially those with high concentrations of antioxidants, had a 27 percent decreased risk of developing cataracts. If your looking for a fantastic, multivitamin, check out plant based supplement offered right here on my website, called Blend – Vitamin, Multi Mineral.
- Supplement with vitamins A and C, and beta-carotene: Vitamins A and C are antioxidants that are highly concentrated in the eyes and help protect against the onslaught of free radicals, and beta-carotene is a vitamin A precursor that helps to promote healthy vision. The recommended daily dosages are: 5,000 IU of vitamin A 2,500 mg of vitamin C, and 15,000 IU of beta-carotene.
- Make sure you’re getting enough lutein and zeaxanthin via your diet: A 2008 study found that older women who had the highest levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were about a third less likely to have cataracts. I recommend taking 15 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily, again, check out the fantastic supplements offered right here, our blend multivitamin and vitalize for men and women is quality that can not be surpassed and you can trust!
- Take organic bilberry: Bilberry acts as a vasodilator, increasing blood flow to the vasculature of the eyes, and increases tissue and capillary wall strength. In one study of 50 patients with cataracts, it stopped the progression of the cataracts in 97 percent of the cases. The recommended daily dose is 320 mg of a bilberry extract standardized to contain 25 percent anthocyanidins.
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Thanks for Reading!
Chris
My husband had cataracts, so I’m looking online to learn more about this eye condition and the surgery options. I think it’s interesting how you explain that they are almost always successfully treated with surgery. I’ll share this information with my husband.