- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Feb. 4, 2012
Preventing diabetic retinopathy
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
According to the American Diabetes Association, if you have diabetes, you're at an increased risk of eye complications. Most people with diabetes will get some form of retinopathy, a disorder of the retina. Diabetes-related eye complications are the leading cause of blindness in the United States.
But preventing diabetic retinopathy and other eye complications is possible. One 10-year study showed that keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible prevented development of or slowed the progression of diabetic eye disease by more than 75 percent. And improving blood glucose levels can help even if blood glucose hasn't been controlled in the past.
Understanding diabetic retinopathy
The retina is the light sensitive tissue in the back of your eye. It works like a camera, taking a "picture" and sending that information to the brain via the optic nerve. Over time, high blood glucose causes the blood vessels in the eye to weaken. Eventually, the blood vessels leak into the retina. At this stage, most people don't have any symptoms.
Continued high blood sugar will cause further damage to the retinas. New blood vessels will grow on the retina, but they'll be weak and break open more easily. This will cause leaking of blood into the middle part of the eye, affecting vision. Bleeding can also cause scar tissue to form and the retina to pull away from the wall of the eye. If that isn't bad enough, retinopathy can also lead to swelling of the macula (macular edema), further worsening vision.
Several factors influence whether or not a person gets retinopathy. These include blood sugar control, blood pressure control, how long you've had diabetes, and genetics.
Preventing diabetic retinopathy and other eye complications
To prevent or slow diabetic retinopathy and other eye complications:
- Control your blood sugar. Test your blood sugar on a regular basis, as recommended by your doctor. Keep a record of your blood glucose levels, and bring that record and your meter with you to your appointments. If you keep your blood sugar levels close to normal, you're less likely to get retinopathy. And, if you do get it, it's more likely to be a milder and more treatable form (nonproliferative retinopathy).
- Keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure — common in adults with diabetes — not only increases your risk of eye problems, it also increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. High blood pressure increases the pressure of the blood vessels in the eye, causing weakened vessels to burst. Have your blood pressure checked regularly, and work with your doctor to keep it under control.
- Keep your diabetes appointments. Don't miss your diabetes-related appointments, and don't forget to see your eye doctor. He or she will take a good look at the retina. The sooner retinopathy is detected and treated, the more successful treatment will be.
Have a good week.
Peggy
7 comments posted
August 22, 2012 10:37 p.m.
Playing music and making the vieewr read is stupid. Why aren't you appearing and talking etc? Fortunately most diabetics know not to waste their money on so-called natural cures because there are none. That term alone makes me think of Kevin Trudeau and most people know that he's a snake oil salesman/huckster/con man!
- Emmanuel
August 20, 2012 1:48 p.m.
The folks at Betty Crocker have done it again: given us mere mortals great, easy reecips my whole family can enjoy. The best thing about this book is that the reecips aren't made from weird food you have to hunt for; they are made from items already in your kitchen. And they are reecips anyone can eat for good health. So, if one member of your family has diabetes, the whole family can eat this food and love it.The reecips are great, especially the desserts. And you thought you couldn't eat dessert with diabetes! The Carbohydrate Choices is a great counting device. I've never seen it in any other cookbook and I find it much easier to use than exchanges. Plus, it's not just a cookbook. There's doctor's advice and management plans inside. This book is very uplifting and practical.GET THIS BOOK! IT'S THE BEST DIABETES COOKBOOK, hands down.
- Laurent
July 6, 2012 10:51 a.m.
The folks at Betty Crocker have done it again: given us mere mortals great, easy rpeecis my whole family can enjoy. The best thing about this book is that the rpeecis aren't made from weird food you have to hunt for; they are made from items already in your kitchen. And they are rpeecis anyone can eat for good health. So, if one member of your family has diabetes, the whole family can eat this food and love it.The rpeecis are great, especially the desserts. And you thought you couldn't eat dessert with diabetes! The Carbohydrate Choices is a great counting device. I've never seen it in any other cookbook and I find it much easier to use than exchanges. Plus, it's not just a cookbook. There's doctor's advice and management plans inside. This book is very uplifting and practical.GET THIS BOOK! IT'S THE BEST DIABETES COOKBOOK, hands down.
- Balroa
February 26, 2012 2:25 a.m.
I did eat only fruit f one year, once, gave up on food, and ate only if invited to relatives homes, and did lose a lot of weight but got too low in weight and went back to food again, and now am over weight now, and have fat abdomen and and such, am about 40 pounds heavier over weight , now, and do not eat out much. \i am hating salt and fat, and love bread in a not too much eaten amount, |I hate white wheat foods and and use both kinds of insulin, and walk for exercise wisely, in sunlight, sore joints and burning feet that curl under in spasms , magnesium and b complex vit, for that helps, but now feet are even m ore of a problem, I minimally use feet, now, using dry brush and creams and but have to go eat , in sugar low, now... less weight gives better sugar control, and but food is a problem as it gives more sugar control problems.. diabetic means not so much food for you, and eating just fruit and vegetables is key ... just to fill tummy of hunger is best but not full range of foods... but taking vitamins is needed. Exercise and water is needed. I use milk and of low fat , and molasses instead of sugar in pure state for low sugar times. or fruit juice in real nature of no sugar added kinds. Or just oranges, ...and a few pieces of bread in grain bread kind. Lack of foods and Dr, helps in real kinds , out here..
- Carrol
February 26, 2012 2:06 a.m.
We are from California, and now live in Egypt for 15 years, now, I am 62, and but there are a lot of scary so called doctors, out here, and driving far is dangerous , and so I do not see drs. and do not use blood monitoring equipment, as it is up and down and dysfunctional and is laboring to use all days and nights and is expensive to use.... it drives me mad.. We are going back to America to stay, now, soon. My feet are a problem and eye is acting up in vision but Doc says my eye is alright... and but feet respond to magnesium, and B complex vit. I am moody and have Menopause, and a long visit of that, I walk for 30 min. a day if I am not too tired to do so, and am depressed a lot, but love Rescue remedy a lot... or had it only once... but intend to use it a the Drs. here are crazy and not to be trusted... they over dose you in insulin and or say another line in less insulin.. I stay away from sugar and honey and dates, I get less sleep as grandchild and cat are my problems , and sleep in wrong bed, as house is full of people, and but are leaving, love ear plugs of wax, and and eye masks, Sore joints and burning feet, and awake to fix food and insulin to control foot pain. And to control joint pain... insulin high , right now..
- Carrol
February 15, 2012 3:55 p.m.
My daughter 25 has had type 1 diabetes for14 years. She has retinaoipathy & is receiving laser teratment on a regulare basis. Does the Mayo Clinic have any new treatment to help with this devastating conditrion. Thankyou, from Canada
- Nancy
February 12, 2012 11:08 a.m.
I appreciate the clarity of this post, it is also depressing. Is retinopathy inevitable? I work hard to manage my diabetes and to limit incidence of high blood sugar, but am I just going to end up with complications? This raises the question of what defines "safe" bgl numbers. Some people in the diabetes blogosphere question the ADA guidelines and assert that damage stops at 155 under and preferrably 140 or under. Maybe this is a topic for a future post?
- Deborah
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