Q&A: At what stage in diabetes does diabetic retinopathy occur?
Posted in Types on 17. Jun, 2010
Question by NickJr1990: At what stage in diabetes does diabetic retinopathy occur?
By this I mean, prediabetes, diabetes type 2, or only if the patient refuses to accept treatment?
Also, my doc said I have slightly high blood sugar. I am only 20 years old and of average weight. Will my blood sugar always be above normal for the rest of my life? What can I do to lower it and get it back to normal?
Best answer:
Answer by Chucklehead
People in their 20’s can go blind in three days from high sugar levels. That is no joke. Diabetes is nothing to fool with. I read that in a medical article a few weeks ago.
Retinopathy occurs in approximately eight percent of patients in the first three years, with statistics rising to one quarter after five years and jumping to eighty percent after approximately fifteen years of being diagnosed with diabetes of any form. These percentages are quite large, but they do not mean that the same percentage of patients will go blind. They point instead to the reasons you should be tested annually for the problem.
When you have your vision checked annually, your eye doctor will be able to catch retinopathy in the early stages. In this stage, the condition is easily treatable. Controlling your blood sugar can also prevent the condition or help delay the onset and progression. It is very important to contact your eye doctor if you experience any vision changes including blurriness or trouble seeing clearly.
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Its nothing to mess with. Watch what your eating our society seems to have tripled portion control. I would talk to doctor about, prediabetes type 1 or Type 2. Could be Type 1. I was 40 years old and diagnosised. I where a pump now, my pancrease is still working a little. Do NOT mess around with this, learn all you can and prevent it with what information you get. Its your life and your young!
Diabetic retinopathy can occur at anytime and is the result of prolonged high blood sugars. However, 3 days of high blood sugar will NOT make you go blind. I’ve been diabetic for 21 years now and unfortunately did not take very good care of myself when I was first diagnosed. I am just now starting to see complications from retinopathy though.
The important thing to know about retinopathy is that there may be no symptoms or pain early on. You won’t notice any changes in your vision until the disease progresses. It is VERY important to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. If I’d not had that done I don’t know how long it would have been before they’d found mine.
The type of diet to follow to help control slightly elevated blood sugar is really one that anyone wanting to be healthier would follow. Cut back on sugar, sodium and fat/cholesterol content. Drink lots of water and get plenty of exercise. Stop smoking if you are a smoker.
I’ve attached 2 articles that have some good information in them on retinopathy.
Good luck and I hope this helps!