Diabetes is a destructive disease, especially when it is undiagnosed, untreated, or unmanaged. Vision loss and blindness can happen if a diabetic does not take action to keep glucose levels under control. Understanding how diabetes affect the retina is critical for diabetics.
The Damage that Diabetes Does
After developing diabetes, the body loses its ability to regulate glucose levels in the blood stream. Normally, insulin helps with glucose regulation. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas begins to produce less and less insulin. With Type 2 insulin, the body still retains its ability to produce insulin. However, for reasons still under study, insulin becomes less and less effective in regulating glucose levels.
The ultimate result of both …show more content…
It hits the back of your eye at the retina. The retina is a layer of cells that are sensitive to light. The light triggers nerve impulses which travel to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain translates those nerve signals into what we perceive as vision.
The retina is a very delicate area which requires a healthy flow of blood provided by capillaries. If those capillaries sustain damage, the retina can also sustain damage.
Nonproliferative retinopathy happens when the those delicate capillaries start losing their structure and form pouches. This can cause vision to become blurry.
Macular edema occurs as the capillaries lose their ability to regulate what passes through their walls. Fluid can start to accumulate behind the macula, the part of the retina responsible for focus. As the fluid accumulates, it can hinder the ability of the eye to focus.
Proliferative retinopathy happens when damaged capillaries completely collapse, stopping blood flow. Lack of blood flow triggers the body to start growing new blood vessels to feed the retina. These vessels are very weak and tend to leak blood. They can also cause scar tissue. This can cause vision loss and
The Damage that Diabetes Does
After developing diabetes, the body loses its ability to regulate glucose levels in the blood stream. Normally, insulin helps with glucose regulation. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas begins to produce less and less insulin. With Type 2 insulin, the body still retains its ability to produce insulin. However, for reasons still under study, insulin becomes less and less effective in regulating glucose levels.
The ultimate result of both …show more content…
It hits the back of your eye at the retina. The retina is a layer of cells that are sensitive to light. The light triggers nerve impulses which travel to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain translates those nerve signals into what we perceive as vision.
The retina is a very delicate area which requires a healthy flow of blood provided by capillaries. If those capillaries sustain damage, the retina can also sustain damage.
Nonproliferative retinopathy happens when the those delicate capillaries start losing their structure and form pouches. This can cause vision to become blurry.
Macular edema occurs as the capillaries lose their ability to regulate what passes through their walls. Fluid can start to accumulate behind the macula, the part of the retina responsible for focus. As the fluid accumulates, it can hinder the ability of the eye to focus.
Proliferative retinopathy happens when damaged capillaries completely collapse, stopping blood flow. Lack of blood flow triggers the body to start growing new blood vessels to feed the retina. These vessels are very weak and tend to leak blood. They can also cause scar tissue. This can cause vision loss and