Type 2 Diabetes - Ways Diabetics Can Protect Their Vision

World Wide Web | Type 2 Diabetes - Ways Diabetics Can Protect Their Vision | Our vision is one of the most precious gifts we have. Everything you see is because light passes into your eye through the pupil which is the black dot in the center of your eye color. For diabetics, keeping their eyes healthy is a constant struggle with many challenges to overcome. Here are some tips to help you keep your vision healthy:

1. Wear sunglasses. We all know how damaging the sun's UV rays can be to us... especially our eyes. Even short amounts of exposure can be detrimental to your eyesight. You should always make sure to wear your sunglasses anytime you are in the sun... no matter how short of a duration.

Sunglasses are not an area you want to skimp on either. Make sure you go for quality and coverage over price and looks. It's more important they provide adequate protection than it is for them to be pretty. You can have the best of both worlds, if you shop around. Always replace sunglasses if they become damaged.

While wearing sunglasses offers protection, you can boost that protection even more by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Sunglasses can only cover so much of your eyes, but they can't do anything for sun that comes down from over the top and sides of your sunglasses. The right hat can pick up the level of protection where sunglasses leave off. Plus, a hat is also ideal for helping to ward off skin cancer as well.

2. Stop smoking. Besides the obvious damage cigarettes cause to your lungs, they pose a real threat to your vision. Smoke from cigarettes causes damage to the lens of your eye, making them harder, discolored and age prematurely, all of which will blur and distort your vision.

3. Use your glasses. If you have been prescribed reading or driving glasses, wear them. Not doing so causes unnecessary strain and irritation to the retina.

4. Back off of the computer. Sitting at the computer for too long can irritate and damage your eyes. Take periodic breaks and only stay on the computer as long as it takes to get your work done. This goes for tablets, laptops and e-readers... and even texting on cell phones.

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your overall health has a lot to do with the health of your eyes:

keeping your blood pressure down,

eating right,

drinking plenty of water,

exercising and, of course,

keeping your blood sugar level stable and under control

all help to keep your vision healthy.

Eating the right foods includes consuming plenty of choices that promote good eye care, from carrots, to sweet potatoes, blueberries and other foods that are rich in antioxidants.

Type 2 diabetes is no longer a condition you must live with. It need not slowly and inevitably get worse. You can take control of the disease... take back your life and protect your body from developing diabetic complications.

Article Source: EzineArticles