As a diabetic, you can take steps to significantly reduce your own risk of developing retinopathy that puts vision at risk. Good diabetes management is key in prevention and treatment. Good diabetes management means keeping blood sugar levels, blood lipid values and blood pressure at the target levels set with the team responsible for your care. Your own targets are recorded in your individual treatment plan.
Blood sugar management
Good blood sugar management reduces the risk of retinopathy occurring and progressing in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
Rapidly corrected blood sugar levels can exacerbate retinopathy temporarily. If moderate or severe changes have been observed in the backs of your eyes, any changes to blood sugar levels should be made gradually and the condition of the backs of your eyes monitored closely.
Blood pressure management
Management of heightened blood pressure can reduce the risk of retinopathy occurring and progressing, and the need for laser treatment in type 2 diabetics.
For type 1 diabetics, research has not shown blood pressure management to have the same impacts.
Blood lipid management
Good management of blood lipids, i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides, can slow the progress of retinopathy and reduce the need for laser treatment.