When an Elderly Loved One has diabetes, it’s necessary to work continually with them to keep their blood sugar levels under control. That’s because high levels of blood sugar can damage many parts of the body. One area that is susceptible to damage is the eye.
How Does Diabetes-Related Macular Edema Affect the Eye
The small blood vessels on the back inner wall of the eyeball are at risk of being damaged or blocked when there is too much sugar in the blood. They may weaken and leak causing the macula section of the retina to swell and thicken, greatly reducing vision.
Symptoms of Diabetes-Related Macular Edema
The symptoms usually come on fairly slowly, which may mean at first, your loved one may think his eyeglasses just aren’t working as well as they used to and he needs a new prescription. A visit to his eye-care specialist will help you both determine if these symptoms are a result of diabetes-related macular edema.
- An increase in floaters in your loved one’s vision. Floaters are small black dots and strands that appear and float across the eye. They are often most noticeable when looking at a bright area such as out a window on a sunny day.
- Colors may begin to appear to be washed out. The vibrancy of the world around them will slowly diminish.
- When looking straight ahead, your loved one may notice straight lines look wavy or start to bend where they shouldn’t
- An inability to focus clearly on objects that now look blurry.
- An item may appear to be a different size based on the eye that is viewing it.
Living with Diabetes-Related Macular Edema
The good news is that with proper treatment, some of the damage from diabetes-related macular edema can be reversed. Treatments can include laser surgery as well as injections. Once treated, your loved one will need to focus on managing his diabetes to prevent further damage to his eyes and possible blindness.
Reduce the Risk of Further Development of Diabetes-Related Macular Edema with Proper Diabetes Care
Managing blood sugar levels is key to reducing the risk of diabetic-related conditions from developing. Your loved one may be able to do many of these on his own, but it can also help to have a provider visit his home to help with diabetes care. A diabetes care provider can help him implement some lifestyle changes that could be harder to do on their own.
Four Areas a Diabetes Care Provider Can Assist With:
- Diet. Eating a balanced diet that is made up of healthy food choices can be a big change for some people. A diabetes care provider can help your loved one learn which foods will benefit his eye health and which may cause harm.
- Exercise. Regular exercise helps manage blood sugar levels, which in turn protects areas of the body from the damage that can occur when those levels get too high, such as the eyes.
- Manage Current Health Conditions. Diabetes, combined with high blood pressure or high cholesterol can create an unhealthy breeding ground for complications. A diabetes care provider can help your loved one with medication management if that is part of his healthcare regimen.
- Attending Regular Eye Exams. If your loved one needs transportation to appointments or reminders of those appointments, a care provider can help.
