Diabetic Retinopathy Archives - Page 8 of 11 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Diabetes Speeds the Aging Process

The American Diabetes Association tells us that 8.3% of Americans have diabetes. Another 79 million people are thought to be pre-diabetic. Those numbers are staggering, especially when a new report describes how diabetes contributes to premature aging.

A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine describes how diabetics in their 50s are more likely to age before their time. People with diabetes between the ages of 51 and 70 all exhibit markers associated with aging including cognitive impairment, incontinence, falls, dizziness, vision impairment, and pain before their non-diabetic counterparts.

Researchers credit this all-over increased aging process to the fact that diabetes affect multiple organ systems.
Source: Life Extension Daily News

One of the main organs that feels the effects of diabetes? The eyes. Diabetic retinopathy. One quarter of those with diabetes have compromised vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy: New Video Diagnostic Technology

Diabetic retinopathy should be easier to detect with a new video imaging technique being developed in Australia.

At the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress researchers presented on how retinal video recording is as accurate at detecting diabetic retinopathy as the commonly established diagnostic practices – still photography and slit lamp examination. The initial trial involved 200 eyes at the Royal Perth Hospital. According to presenter Dr. Daniel Ting, Digital video “is able to image a larger area of retina within a shorter period of time, compared to the conventional retinal still photography. It also provides a good continuity of retinal information and is less dependent on the cooperation of the patients who may move or lose focus during the process of still photography.”

It is hoped that the technology will allow Australian primary healthcare providers to do in-office screenings rather than current diagnostic practices that require more time and specialized training.

Source: VirtualMedicalCentre

For more information on diabetic retinopathy research, visit our website.

How Some Diabetes Patients Avoid Diabetic Retinopathy

Why do some people with type 1 diabetes remain free of diabetic retinopathy and other complications while others suffer from sight loss as well as kidney and cardiovascular problems?

Researchers publishing in Diabetes Care set out to answer this question by studying individuals who have been living with type 1 diabetes for over 50 years. It seems that the sample group of 351 people with longterm diabetes diagnoses was mostly good at maintaining stable blood sugar levels, but blood sugar control did not seem to be the determining factor when it came to eye, kidney, and heart problems.

For the most part, scientists say it is still a mystery why 35% of these older type 1 diabetes patients seem free of the issues commonly associated with their disease. They seem to have some inherent “protective mechanisms” that keep them from developing these conditions. One factor may be the particular advanced glycation end products (AGEs) present in the subjects. Some types of AGEs were linked to diabetes complications while others seems to protect the patients from the aforementioned eye, kidney, and heart troubles. Study authors say that these protective AGEs may lead to new biomarkers that will help indicate whether people are likely to be susceptible to these accompanying conditions.

As researchers strive to determine what protects certain people from diabetic retinopathy and other problems it is still essential that people with diabetes of both types work to control their blood sugar levels. Learn about natural ways to deal with diabetes.

Source: US News

For more peer reviewed research on diabetic retinopathy, visit our website.

Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric All Help Regulate Diabetes

Diabetes & Spices — Image via doh.sd.gov

Another major study describes how some of the spices in your kitchen can help treat diabetes.

Garlic, ginger, and turmeric were found to have positive effects on diabetic rats. The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition (2011), 105: 1210-1217, finds that ingesting these common spices helped the animals who suffered from metabolic syndrome and helped modulate oxidative stress levels.

Rats who took the spices in powder form mixed with water for 28 days showed a 80-97% reduction in metabolic syndrome symptoms. The animals’ insulin production increased by 26-37% and their antioxidant defense systems were boosted by up to 52%.

Of the three spices tested, garlic seemed to have the most profound impact on reducing the risks associated with metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular problems.

Source: https://journals.cambridge.org

Important Note: Before taking turmeric supplements check with your doctor if you are taking a blood thinner. While adding a bit of turmeric to your cooking is usually ok, more concentrated forms have a lot of punch. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric is a blood thinner.

Blood Test Can Determine Chance of Developing Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes - Blood Test — image via ndep.nih.gov

A blood test may help determine your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a HbA1c test, which measures the amount of glycated hemoglobin in your blood, can indicate whether individuals with diabetes are likely to develop the sight threatening condition diabetic retinopathy. Researchers reveal that people with unhealthy HbA1c and blood sugar levels run a significantly higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy within 10 years.

The scientists hope their findings will help doctors spot patients who are most likely to lose their eyesight and make recommendations on how to improve their lifestyle choices to maintain their eye health.

Source: MD Labs

A healthy lifestyle is a cornerstone of our plan for preventing diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Fight Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Degeneration

Omega-3 & Diabetic retinopathy — image via www.research.gov

A new study further supports what we know about how beneficial omega-3 fatty acids can be, particularly in the prevention of diabetic retinopathy. This new study, performed at Children’s Hospital Boston, describes how these “good fats” most commonly found in fish oil actually work to prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Both diabetic retinopathy and another potentially blinding condition, macular degeneration, are caused by the abnormal growth of leaky blood vessels within the eyes. Mice whose diets were supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (which many people on a Western diet do not get enough of) were 50% less likely to have these eye conditions compared to other mice who were given lots of omega-6’s (fats more commonly found in the Western food chain).

This study shows how omega-3 fatty acids actually have “a direct effect on blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) that selectively promotes the growth of healthy blood vessels and inhibits the growth of abnormal vessels.”

Source: MedicalNewsToday.com

Learn more about how to prevent diabetic retinopathy through diet, lifestyle habits, and other supplements.

See information on natural treatment options for macular degeneration.

Exercise: Prevent Diabetes By Walking 10,000 Steps Per Day

A new study published in the British Medical Journal makes the case for walking away from diabetes.

The researchers studied nearly 600 adults over 5 years and found that those who took 10,000 steps per day (the equivalent of 5 miles) had much better insulin sensitivity than those who walked less.

Diabetes risk decreases when one’s insulin sensitivity increases.

Source: LA Times article

Learn more about the related condition, diabetic retinopathy – a potentially blinding disease that can be prevented and treated with proper nutrition and exercise.

Low Muscle Mass = Increased Risk

New study shows low skeletal muscle mass and strength often found in those who are older or obese may put individuals at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and that a good diet may not be enough to prevent type 2 diabetes.

These associations were stronger in people age 60 and under, in whom sarcopenia (the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength associated with aging) was associated with high levels of blood sugar in both obese and thin people, and with diabetes in obese individuals.

The findings are published in the journal Plos One.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about nutrition and diabetes.

Ginseng Supports Eye Health and May Boost Brain Function

In the formulas that I have created to support my patients’ and clients’ eye health I have included the herb ginseng because I know it helps improve heart and immune function. It strengthens the immune system and is an excellent herb for overall health. After all, the health of the eyes is inextricably connected to the health of the entire body.

Brain Function & Ginseng

In a study that appeared in The Cochrane Library revealed that some people may experience increased brain function when taking ginseng. According to lead researcher JinSong Geng, M.D, “Ginseng appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behavior and quality of life.” At the same time, the authors do not believe they have enough evidence to recommend people start taking the herb in therapeutic doses in hopes of improving brain health. Source:https://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/getDocument.cfm?documentID=22336

We do know that it supports the health of the retina, however. Learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy, often a side effect of diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Brain Function

Interestingly, research announced at Diabetes UK’s Annual Professional Conference links Diabetic retinopathy with poorer memory and diminished brain power in people with Type 2 diabetes. It has yet to be determined whether the advance of cerebral microvascular disease, as indexed by retinopathy, leads to cognitive decline or whether poorer mental acuity makes it more difficult to manage diabetes symptoms and leads to a worsening of the disease. According to Jie Ding from the University of Edinburgh, “It is also possible that a third unidentified factor is causing both diabetic retinopathy and the cognitive changes.” Source: medicalnewstoday.com/

Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma

A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 80%.

Research published in the journal Stroke encourages people to exercise regularly, drink alcohol only in moderation, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, control weight, and not smoke in order to avoid stroke.

These guidelines are the same that we recommend when it comes to avoiding vision conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Moderate Alcohol Use

There’s another piece of evidence that suggests moderate drinking – one or two alcoholic beverages each day – can be beneficial for the eyes.

A study of over 3,600 Australians found that when the figures were adjusted to account for other factors (including age, smoking, and diabetes), people who had one or two drinks each day were 50% less likely to have cataract surgery. The moderate drinkers were less likely to require surgery for cataracts than counterparts who drank more as well as those who did not drink at all.

Source: https://www.osnsupersite.com

Risk of Retinopathy is Significant Even In Non-Diabetics

blood pressure cuff — image via blog.usa.gov

Retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) is most commonly associated with diabetes, but a new study shows that 1 in 8 people without diabetes show signs of retinopathy.

The study, published in Ophthalmology describes how retinopathy is linked to hypertension, smoking, and carotid artery disease – all common risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease.

One study author states that “controlling blood pressure and vascular risk factors may reverse retinopathy.” Researchers hope that their findings will help health practitioners and patients become more aware of the risk of retinopathy in those who do not show signs of diabetes.

Source: Medscape

Learn more about controlling blood pressure naturally.