If you have diabetes, you may be one of the 40 to 45 percent of American people who have some form of diabetic retinopathy. This condition ranges from mild to advanced and in the last stage, it can cause drastic vision changes or loss of sight. Diabetic retinopathy appears when fluid escapes out of swollen blood vessels in the retina or when irregular blood vessels evolve on the retina's surface. If you've been diagnosed with this condition, learn how you can improve your vision and keep your sight by reading the tips below.
Consume Foods In A Specific Order
High blood sugar leads to vision problems and diabetics can lower a high blood sugar reading by eating foods in a certain order. When you eat a protein and a vegetable before eating carbohydrates during a meal, this lowers the levels of your blood sugar and insulin.
Since carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, eating the other foods first allows the carbohydrates to absorb gradually into the body. This allows your blood sugar to rise steadily instead of spiking all at once.
Place Diabetic Friendly Foods On Your Plate
Maintaining a constant blood sugar level slows down the advancement of diabetic retinopathy. Eating certain foods can help you to maintain a constant blood sugar reading.
- Cinnamon – This spice adjusts blood sugar levels by slowing the rate at which your stomach empties. This reduces sharp increases in blood sugar levels right after eating. Add one teaspoon of cinnamon to your food every day to reap the rewards of this antioxidant.
- Chickpeas – Also called garbanzo beans, eating these round legumes will keep your blood sugar levels steady. They further help with your retinal health because they are rich in fiber and protein, which moderates the levels of blood sugar and insulin.
- Okra – This green vegetable is high in soluble fiber, which assists in reducing intestinal absorption of glucose. Okra helps to regulate the sugar levels in your system after you eat them. Okra also contains enzymes that metabolizes carbohydrates and increases the production of insulin.
Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
Staring right into the sun without wearing eye protection can cause more damage to your eyes when you have diabetic retinopathy. Choose sunglasses that have UVA and UVB protection of 99 to 100 percent.
Sunglasses that wrap around the head offer the best defense from the sun. Look for sunglasses that have large lenses and try them on to make sure they fit close to your face. This keeps the sun from reaching your eyes from above your glasses.
Follow the tips above to keep your diabetic retinopathy from worsening. Speak with retina surgeons like one from Advanced Retinal Institute Inc about the different types of surgery available to correct diabetic vision problems.
Share
