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is a retina specialist in Lexington, Kentucky. He specializes in eye problems related to diabetes. Here are some of the sobering facts on diabetes and its impact on the eyes. Diabetes and African Americans: Compared to the general population, African-Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes: 13.2% of all African Americans aged 20 years or older have diagnosed diabetes. . African-American adults are 70 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. In 2008, African American men were 2.7 times as likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes, as compared to non-Hispanic white men. In 2008, diabetic African Americans were 1.7 times as likely as diabetic Whites to be hospitalized. Diabetes and Eyesight: And diabetes can impact most systems in the body, including eyesight. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in working age patients. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is theleading cause of moderate vision loss in patients with diabetic retinopathy. It is swelling in the light sensitive tissue in the back of the eye (the retina) in the region responsible for the central vision (the macula). It is caused by elevated blood sugars over years that results in damage to the smallest blood vessels (the capillaries). These blood vessels become “leaky” and this results in swelling (edema). The most common symptom of DME is blurred vision. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in diabetic patients. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. These blood vessels can bleed (vitreous hemorrhage) or scar and pull the retina off the eye wall (tractional retinal detachment). Dr. Kitchens answered your questions about diabetes below: Is there a way to test for diabetes at home? Although there are ways to check your blood sugars at home, the best way to check for diabetes (if you haven’t already beendiagnosed) is with a fasting blood sugar level done by your physician. I wear glasses and just found out I have high blood pressure is my kidneys. Is that because of diabetes? It’s difficult to say. Both high blood pressure and diabetes can affect your kidneys. It is best to ask your doctor. Doc, I drink coffee and eat sweets. What can I do to live longer? The first thing is to do these things in moderation. Drinking too much coffee or eating too many sweets can cause problems. I’m borderline diabetic. What is the best way to keep my sugar down? The first thing is to routinely check your sugars – too many times people just don’t know how high their sugars are. The second thing is diet. Eat as healthy as possible. Drink water routinely but not excessively. Try to exercise daily. Take your medications as prescribed by your doctor. These are all healthy tips which can help lower your blood sugar level. How is it that one can have diabetes for 8-10 years and not know it? Is that becausethere is not a wellness program where the person is visiting the doctor on a regular basis? Diabetes can be very “sneaky.” Often in the first few years, people just feel fatigued and may have increased thirst or urination. Without routine visits to the doctor and regular laboratory testing (especially important if you’re noticing these symptoms) it would be impossible to know that you have elevated blood sugar levels. In order to dilate your eyes, must they use drops? Yes. Recently, I get numb hands and arms when I sleep in the wrong position. The numbness used to go away, but now stays in my fingertips on one side. Is it diabetes? This is unlikely to be diabetes and more likely a problem with nerve compression. It’s best to see your doctor about this. I have a cousin who is diabetic, He had surgery on his eyes to clear the nerve growth. He was told he might lose his vision but it would come back gradually. What is going on? Abnormal blood vessels can grow in the back of the eye.This is the most severe form of diabetic retinopathy called proliferative retinopathy. Injections into the eye, laser, and even surgery may be necessary to treat this stage of diabetic eye disease. What are some things you can do to lower your blood sugar levels? Maintaining a healthy diet and taking your medicines as prescribed along with routine exercise are the most critical components of maintaining a low blood sugar level.
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