Diabetics Should Pay Attention to Eye Health

Diabetes damages the eyes first among the organs it harms. Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Berker: "In patients with prolonged elevated blood sugar, complications such as bleeding and edema can occur within the eye. Damage to blood vessels in the eye can trigger problems leading to blindness" Ayhan Pazarlıoğlu, who lost one eye due to diabetes: "Despite being ill, I did not pay attention to my diet, I did not take medication. After approximately 15 years, my eyes gradually began to suffer damage. Unfortunately, because I was negligent and neglected my treatment, I lost my right eye" Experts warn that eyes are among the organs most damaged by diabetes, and that untreated patients who do not follow dietary measures can experience damage ranging up to blindness. Ophthalmology Specialist Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Berker, in a statement to AA, noted that diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar that can damage all blood vessels in the body. Stating that diabetes has two types, Berker said: "Type 1 diabetes begins at a young age. In this type of diabetes, insulin secretion from the pancreas is impaired and blood sugar rises due to insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes occurs at a more advanced age when the insulin secreted cannot be used by cells." She shared this information. Berker noted that when blood sugar rises in the body, blood vessel walls are damaged, saying: "When the blood vessel wall is damaged as a result of diabetes, certain changes occur in the blood. As a result of all this, oxygen deficiency develops in tissues with damaged blood vessels and blood flow. This leads to organs not being nourished and unable to perform their functions."

"Problems leading to blindness can begin"

Drawing attention to the fact that eyes are among the organs with the most blood vessels in the body, Berker said: "Damage to blood vessels affects the eye most in the body. In patients with prolonged elevated blood sugar, complications such as bleeding and edema can occur within the eye. Damage to blood vessels in the eye triggers problems leading to blindness."

Patients must pay attention to their lifestyle

Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Berker stated that diabetic patients must try to maintain normal blood sugar levels from the day of diagnosis, saying: "To keep blood sugar at normal levels, patients must follow their diet, take their medications regularly if they have any, and exercise. If patients do not neglect their diet, medication and exercise, diabetes will not cause any problems and patients will live healthily while also preventing other possible complications." she concluded.

"I lost my right eye because I neglected my treatment"

Ayhan Pazarlıoğlu, 52, who lives in Karabük, said he has been a diabetic patient for 20 years and came to Ankara for treatment. Speaking of how he did not receive treatment for years despite his illness, Pazarlıoğlu said: "Despite being ill, I did not pay attention to my diet and I did not take medication. After approximately 15 years, my eyes gradually began to suffer damage. It was as if there were floating objects in my eye. I sometimes saw blurrily but thought it would pass and did not care. Unfortunately, because I was negligent and neglected my treatment, I lost my right eye." Pazarlıoğlu stated that he is receiving treatment to preserve the health of his left eye, saying: "After losing my right eye, I understood the importance of treatment in diabetes. Now I pay attention to my diet, I take my medications and I come for eye examinations at regular intervals." Warning patients not to neglect their treatment, Pazarlıoğlu said: "I fell into this state because I did not go to the doctor, I did not follow a diet, I did not take my medications. Patients must definitely do what doctors tell them to do, they should not say 'nothing will happen', they should take their medications regularly."

ANKARA (AA) - AHMET SERTAN USUL