Risk factors for Diabetic Retinopathy in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Diabetic retinopathy can be a serious and blinding problem in those who have diabetes. The longer that one has diabetes, the more likely is diabetic retinopathy to occur. Studies in the last decade have also taught us that careful blood sugar and blood pressure control can decrease the chance of developing diabetic eye disease.
It is best to keep your blood pressure as low as possible and careful monitoring of blood sugar measurements and an understanding of your Hb A1C levels can help you better under how good of a job that you are doing in controlling your blood sugars. The A1c, glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c is a critical test in the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The A1c test, unlike fasting blood sugars, gives diabetics an indicator of how good of blood sugars are maintained throughout the day and over a two to three month period of time. In general, the closer to a normal A1c a person can get, the better. It is important that blood glucose control be so strict that hypoglycemia occurs. Tight blood sugar control includes weight loss, exercise, and medications to lower blood sugar levels. Normal A1C levels in a non-diabetic are between four and 6, but not everyone can reach this level. Patients whose blood sugars are unstable may have to be satisfied with A1C levels of 6.5% to 7.5%.
Why are A1C levels so important? As Chicago eye doctor Mark Golden explains, the reason is that we know that the higher the A1C levels, the greater is the chance for systemic complications including diabetic kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease and diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a situation where areas of the retina (the film in the camera of the eye) does not receive enough blood flow. This lack of blood leads to decreased levels of oxygen and this then causes the growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. These new blood vessels can either leak causing retinal swelling, known as macular edema, leave fatty deposits on the retina, or bleed causing a dramatic loss of vision quickly.
The key to diabetic retinopathy is to prevent the damage before it occurs.
Dr. Mark Golden of Golden Eye Surgeons and Consultants has treated thousands of patients with diabetic retinopathy. Contact us to schedule your comprehensive dilated examination.
Two Locations:
Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60611 | Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
2010 S Arlington Heights Rd, Suite 121
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
