In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s time to talk through how watching your sugar intake can be good for your eyes in the long run. A high amount of sugar in the diet can lead to diabetes, which can have a direct effect on the health of your eyes.

The Dangers of Sugar

Sugar is a pro-inflammatory ingredient that can cause inflammation in the muscles and joints. It can lead to high glycemia or high blood sugar, potentially affecting your entire body.

When you have high blood sugar, it leads to swelling and inflammation throughout the body, including the swelling of your eye’s lenses. That means that those with chronic high blood sugar problems are at a higher risk for eye disease.

If you have diabetes, it means that your body doesn’t create insulin or doesn’t produce enough for your body. Insulin is used to remove additional sugar from the blood, so without enough insulin, you are at risk for high blood sugar or potentially high blood pressure problems.

So if you have diabetes or high blood sugar, here are some things you should know about how it can affect your eyes.

Diabetic Retinopathy

One effect of high sugar intake or diabetes on the eyes is diabetic retinopathy. This is caused by poorly controlled blood sugar, leading to damaged blood vessels in the tissue of the back of the eye. Early symptoms of this include floaters in the eye, blurred vision, and difficulty distinguishing colors.

If you’re worried about your sugar intake and are experiencing any of these symptoms, please consult with your Vistar doctor as soon as possible. Mild cases may be treated through managing diabetes. However, if it advances, the patient may need laser treatment or surgery.

Swelling of the eyes leading to Cataracts, Glaucoma, or Macular Degeneration

Another consequence of high blood sugar is the swelling of the eyes. This can lead to harmful changes in your eyes. Some of these changes could lead to cataracts, which is a clouding condition in the eye’s lens, resulting in blurred vision.

High blood sugar also puts you at risk for glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve, which is vital for good vision. This is usually caused by uncommonly high eye pressure, which can be triggered by high glycemia, hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Lastly, if your diet consists of excess sugar, this can lead to macular degeneration which is a deteriorative eyesight condition.

How Can I Keep My Eyes Healthy?

There is a common phrase, “You are what you eat.” This applies to many facets of life. However, when it comes to your health, it couldn’t be more true. Eating a high sugar diet can harm your body in more ways than one, leading to a myriad of diseases and health concerns. Maintaining a strong and balanced diet is one of the best preventative measures you can take to avoid eye disease and diabetes.

Small Ways to Balance Your Diet

A good rule of thumb when you’re trying to change your diet is to start slow. If you completely cut out some things your body is accustomed to, this will lead to cravings and the potential for an unhealthy binge.

We are all human, so take it slow. Start by adding green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale, and arugula into your diet. Maybe instead of using iceberg lettuce in your salad, reach for spinach or kale instead. Making a pasta dish? Add spinach and broccoli near the end, and blend it in. These subtle changes can make all the difference with your diet.

Similarly, adding fruit into your diet can help regulate sugar. Fruits and vegetables are low-glycemic and contain minerals and vitamins your body needs to stay healthy. As an added bonus, they assist in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure low.

Also, just because you’re adding fruits and vegetables into your diet doesn’t mean that you have to completely eliminate sugar. If you are diabetic, you’ll want to watch your blood sugars carefully. Regardless, placing boundaries around sugar and limiting portions will help reduce inflammation and improve your overall health. Be sure to read food labels and look for added sugar. A good rule of thumb is to stick to things that have 8g or less added sugar. As you make these small changes, check in with your body, and be proud of yourself as you begin to noticeably feel better.

Mostly, keep up with regular eye exams, especially if you already are experiencing high blood sugar, high blood pressure, or diabetes. If you have diabetes, you want to be regularly checking in with your eye doctor to make sure that your eyes and the rest of your body stay healthy as you age. Vistar Eye Center is here for every step of your eye journey, so feel free to reach out to us to schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations in Roanoke, Salem, Wytheville, Martinsville, or several other locations throughout Southwest Virginia.