Diabetes mellitus is becoming one of the most common diseases. An illness can undermine the health of not only an adult, but also a child. Doctors associate this trend primarily with many factors that can affect the state of the modern human body: chronic fatigue, all kinds of stressful situations, being overweight, decreased physical activity, a long stay in a sitting position, an unfavorable environment, and poor nutrition.
Dangerous perspective
Diabetes retinopathy is not the only concomitant disease. Some studies show that by around 2025 a critical mark will be set. Scientists suggest that 300 million people will suffer from diabetes. And this is 5% of the total population of the globe.
Features of diabetes
To prevent retinopathy in diabetes mellitus from developing rapidly, you need to know how to prevent this. This requires an understanding of how the disease works. The main symptom of diabetes is an increase in the patient’s blood sugar level. In a healthy person, pancreatic cells produce hormone - insulin. It is this substance that regulates metabolic processes, and primarily sugar, protein and fat.
In diabetes, insufficient insulin is produced. As a result of this, violations occur not only in terms of metabolism. Blood sugar rises. The cells of the body in such conditions are not able to work normally.
Insulin deficiency leads to impaired fat metabolism, as well as the accumulation of cholesterol. This substance gradually accumulates on the walls of blood vessels and leads to sad consequences. With diabetes, the eyes, kidneys, heart, visual apparatus, and also vessels located in the lower extremities most often suffer.
When does retinopathy occur in diabetes
5-10 years after the first symptoms of diabetes, a person develops diabetic retinopathy. With type 1 disease, this phenomenon proceeds rapidly. Retinopathy develops rapidly and becomes proliferative. If the patient has type 2 diabetes, then all changes are mostly observed in the central area of the retina. Often, maculopathy develops. It, as a rule, is cystic and leads to a deterioration in central vision.
Why does diabetes mellitus and related diseases occur?
It has been identified several main reasons why diabetes develops. Avoiding further aggravation of the disease, it is possible to prevent the development of retinopathy. Among the main reasons:
- Obesity.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Pancreatic diseases that cause changes in beta cells, such as cancer, pancreatitis, and so on.
- Viral infections, including flu, epidemic hepatitis, chickenpox, rubella, and so on. Such ailments are something like a trigger for those at risk.
- Nerve stress.
Can retinopathy be diagnosed right away
Retinopathy in diabetes mellitus is not immediately diagnosed, since quite complex processes proceed in the patient's body. Often, the disease becomes noticeable only after the appearance of some complications. According to statistics, retinopathy in type 1 diabetes is present in almost 99% of all patients.
This disease is a serious complication. Retinopathy primarily affects vessels located in the retina directly in the eyeball. Complications are observed in more than 90% of all patients with diabetes. The main symptom of an ailment is a deterioration in visual acuity and impairment, due to which a person ceases to see normally. With diabetes, people most often go blind. It is possible to identify the first signs of retinopathy. For this, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination by ophthalmologists.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Symptoms
This disease proceeds mainly without obvious symptoms. In the early stages, the patient does not feel vision problems and does not notice a decrease in its severity. Retinopathy in diabetes mellitus becomes apparent only after hemorrhage that occurs inside the eye. At this moment, the patient has a continuous veil and dark floating spots. After some time, these signs completely disappear.
However, the hemorrhage is not without a trace for the patient. As a result of such a violation, complete loss of vision can occur. Indeed, inside the vitreous body , cords begin to form, which can lead to retinal detachment.
In addition, there is edema of the central departments responsible for the person's ability to read and observe small objects. In such cases, the veil again returns to the eyes. Reading, doing work at close range, as well as sewing, knitting, and embroidering, become almost impossible.
Classification of retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy, the symptoms of which are described above, has several varieties. The classification of this disease was created in 1992. It was approved by the World Health Organization. This classification is still valid. Retinopathy may be:
- Unprofiled. This is a kind of pathological change that occurs in the retina. It manifests itself, as a rule, with hemorrhages, microscopic aneurysms, the shape of which is a dark spot or dot.
- Preproliferative. A similar retinopathy in diabetes, a photo of which can be seen below, is a venous abnormality. They have a sinuous contour and loops, a significant amount of exudates. Often with this violation, the occurrence of a large number of large hemorrhages is noted.
- Proliferative. In this case, neovascularization of the disk, which is located in the optic nerve, is noted. In this case, vitreous hemorrhage occurs. As a result, fibrous tissue forms in the damaged area. The newly created vessels are fragile and have very thin walls. It is in them that repeated hemorrhages are observed. Vessels that formed in the iris of the eye often lead to secondary glaucoma.
Stages of retinopathy
What is retinopathy with diabetes? The stages of this disease are determined by their characteristic signs. There are three periods of illness:
- Easy stage. This period is characteristic of non-proliferative retinopathy. This is the earliest stage of the disease. During this period, microaneurysms develop - these are peculiar swelling in the form of balls, which are formed in small vessels of the retina.
- Moderate stage. With the progression of the disease, there is a blockage of blood vessels, which are necessary for normal nutrition of the retina.
- Severe stage. With this ailment, a large number of vessels are clogged. At the same time, insufficient blood flow is observed in the retina. At this stage, the body receives signals that it is necessary to create new vessels to resume normal tissue nutrition.
Non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy
Non-proliferative retinopathy in diabetes mellitus is characterized by the formation of aneurysm in the central zone. It can also occur near large veins that pass through the layers of the retina. In this case, exudative foci in the fundus are noted. As a rule, they have a white or yellow tint, as well as fuzzy borders. With this disease, retinal edema is located in the central region, as well as in the region of central and larger vessels. This phenomenon is the main symptom of non-proliferative retinopathy in diabetes.
As for the proliferative variety of the disease, this is the latest stage of the disease. Due to the fact that the retina does not receive enough nutrition, new vessels with fragile and thin walls begin to form. They are often called abnormal. Such vessels grow on the retina, and also cover a significant part of the vitreous located inside the eye. They are not capable of impaired vision, but very fragile. Of these, as a rule, blood leaks. As a result of this, a visual impairment occurs, which has serious consequences. Often, the disease leads to complete blindness.
Essential Therapy Tips
Retinopathy is treated with type 2 diabetes and type 1 diabetes in completely different ways. After all, their symptoms are not the same. In some cases, the disease cannot be completely cured without surgery. As a rule, the treatment of the disease is carried out in a complex. Before prescribing treatment, the patient should be examined not only by an optometrist, but also by an endocrinologist. If the disease is in the second or third stage, then taking the drugs will not be enough. In this situation, laser photocoagulation of the retina is required. This is the most effective method.
Retinopathy in diabetes mellitus, the symptoms of which can appear only at the last stage, is a complex disease. Therapy is carried out with strict observance of insulin therapy, as well as with the preparation of the right diet for the patient. The patient is forbidden to consume large amounts of animal fats. They are usually replaced with herbal products. Easily digestible carbohydrates are excluded from the diet. With such a disease, they are very harmful.
Food and Drugs
Treating retinopathy with diabetes is a complex process that requires patience. First of all, it is worth making a diet for the patient. Experts recommend eating food that contains lipotropic components that are beneficial for the eyes. The patient's menu should include broccoli, blackcurrant, blueberries and viburnum, hot and sweet peppers, Brussels sprouts, sea kale. In addition, foods such as young potatoes, dairy products, liver, fish oil and so on should be present in the diet.
In addition, it is worth taking vitamin complexes. Group B preparations are very useful for a patient with diabetes. They can be taken not only inside, but also parenterally.
Vitamins such as E, P and C have a positive effect on the walls of blood vessels. They have a protective effect. Effective angioprotective drugs are Doksium, Ditsinon, Anginin.
Acceptance of medicines should be carried out only as prescribed by specialists. The treatment of retinopathy in diabetes is not only the use of drugs. This disease requires regular and thorough ophthalmological examinations. In addition, you must regularly take tests to determine your blood sugar.
Herbal preparations from the pharmacy
So, retinopathy in diabetes, the symptoms of which become more pronounced in the last stages, is a disease that is very difficult to cure. In the pharmacy you can buy herbal preparations. Here is a list of the most effective:
- "Tanakan." This drug is prescribed quite often. This medicine is made from a plant like ginkgo biloba. Take the drug with meals three times a day, one tablet. The course is at least three months.
- "Neurostrong." This is another effective medicine. It is made from several components: blueberries, B vitamins, ginkgo biloba and lecithin. The drug is able to improve blood circulation, providing the cells with normal respiration. This eliminates the risk of hemorrhage and blood clots. Assign "Neurostrong" up to 4 times a day, one tablet.
- Dibikor. Retinopathy in diabetes mellitus recedes before such a drug. How to treat a disease with such a remedy? Prescribe the drug in half a gram up to two times a day. Use the drug should be approximately 20 minutes before the morning and evening meal. The course is 6 months. The tool is able to improve metabolism and saturate tissue cells with useful components.
Scarlet with ailment
Retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the treatment of folk remedies of which is allowed, can cause serious consequences. Alternative medicine is usually used to prevent illness. If the symptoms of the disease have not yet manifested or the ailment is at an initial stage, then you can try aloe-based drugs.
This plant has unique properties and is used to treat many problems. In order to prepare a medicine, you need aloe, whose age does not exceed three years. The plant must be carefully examined and choose healthy and fleshy leaves. They should be washed thoroughly and then wrapped with paper. Better to use parchment. The resulting raw materials should be held for some time on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. To be more precise, it will take about 12 days. Only after that, aloe leaves can be crushed. To do this, it is better to use a meat grinder or a blender.
The resulting mass should be squeezed with gauze. The juice must be filtered using a sufficiently dense cloth, and then placed on a fire and brought to a boil. The resulting composition should be cooked for about three minutes.
Store the finished juice for a long time. The drug begins to lose its properties very quickly. Therefore, it is better to cook in this way before the reception. You need to take aloe juice three times a day for a teaspoon half an hour before meals. In addition, the drug can be instilled into the eyes. You need to do this at night. A few drops will be enough. However, when instilling it is worth being careful. To carry out such therapy is only with the permission of the attending physician.
Infusions and juices
How else is retinopathy removed for diabetes? Treatment with folk remedies is usually prescribed to maintain the patient's condition, as well as for prevention. If the disease is at the initial stage, then such drugs can stop its further development. In alternative medicine, various infusions of herbs are used.
One effective drug is calendula based. To prepare it, you need to grind the flowers of this plant and pour hot water. Half a liter of boiling water requires three teaspoons of raw materials. The container with grass must be wrapped and insisted for three hours. The finished composition is well filtered. Take calendula infusion up to four times a day for ½ cup. The same alternative medicine can be used to instill eyes.
A tincture prepared on the basis of blueberries also has a good effect. To prepare this drug, you need to pour a tablespoon of berries in a glass of boiling water. Insist on the drug for an hour. The finished product needs to be drunk per day.
Juices from various berries are also useful. After all, they contain a large number of useful components. To combat retinopathy with diabetes, you can use a drink made from lingonberries. It is worth noting that the daily use of such juice helps to overcome even carotenopathy at the initial stage.
Amazing collection
To eliminate retinopathy in diabetes, you can use various fees. If desired, such a tool can be prepared independently. Here is one of the effective recipes for alternative medicine.
For preparation you will need: chopped burdock root, chopped leaves, as well as willow bark, bean leaves, knotweed, bearberry, nettle, walnut, birch and mint leaves. Components must be taken in equal proportions. In a deep container, combine all the ingredients of the collection, and then mix. A tablespoon of the mixture should be brewed with half a liter of boiling water. The drug should be infused for an hour. After that you need to strain it. Use this collection should be half a glass, preferably before meals. The course is at least 3 months. The effect will be achieved if you use the product without a break. Now you know what retinopathy is in patients with diabetes. Do not forget that any therapy with non-traditional methods should not be carried out without specialist advice. Otherwise, it can only do harm.