Diabetes/Complications in the Body and Eyes

Diabetes can lead to a range of complications throughout the body, with significant impacts on the eyes. Here's a breakdown of how diabetes affects the body and, specifically, the eyes:

General Body Complications:

• Cardiovascular Disease:
  • Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart and blood vessels.
• Nerve Damage (Neuropathy):
  • High blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body. This can cause:
    • Peripheral neuropathy: Numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet.
    • Autonomic neuropathy: Problems with digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily functions.
• Kidney Damage (Nephropathy):
  • Diabetes can damage the kidneys' filtering system, leading to kidney disease or failure.
• Foot Problems:
  • Nerve damage and poor blood flow increase the risk of foot ulcers, infections, and amputation.
• Skin Conditions:
  • People with diabetes are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.
• Hearing Impairment:
  • Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels and nerves in the ears.

Eye Complications:

Diabetes can severely impact eye health, leading to several conditions:

• Diabetic Retinopathy:
  • This is the most common diabetic eye disease. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
  • It can progress through stages, from mild to proliferative retinopathy, where abnormal new blood vessels grow and can bleed, causing vision loss.
  • Macular edema, which is swelling of the macula, can also occur, and cause vision loss.
• Cataracts:
  • People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts (clouding of the eye's lens) at a younger age.
• Glaucoma:
  • Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve, often due to increased pressure in the eye.

Key Points:

• Early detection and management of diabetes are crucial for preventing or delaying these complications.
• Regular eye exams are essential for people with diabetes to detect and treat eye problems early.
• Controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can significantly reduce the risk of complications.
• Regular physical activity is a key part of managing diabetes. It can help one manage blood sugar, improve heart health, and lower the risk of complications. 

Author

Paddy Kalish OD, JD and B.Arch