Type 2 diabetes symptoms: The sign in your eyes you could have the condition

Diabetes affects over 3.7 million people in the UK and has more than doubled in the last twenty years. It is estimated that there are nearly one million people who are living with the condition and don’t even know it. Type 2 diabetes often creeps up on you and that is why it is imperative to look out for the early signs of diabetes and to speak with your doctor about your risk. So how can you tell if you have diabetes? 

High levels of blood sugar resulting from diabetes can affect your ability to see by causing temporary blurring of the eyesight

Diabetes UK

The early symptoms are often so mild that they could be unnoticeable. 

Noticing a change in your eyes is an early sign of type 2 diabetes which includes blurred vision.

The changing of fluid levels in the body due to the blood glucose level changes the shape of the eye and their abiliity to focus thus causing the blurriness. 

An excess of sugar in the blood damages the tiny blood vessels in eyes. 

A person with diabetes who leaves this condition untreated could cause such damage to the blood vessels that a permanent vision loss may occur.

Diabetes UK states: “High levels of blood sugar resulting from diabetes can affect your ability to see by causing the lens inside the eye to swell, which can result in temporary blurring of the eyesight.

“Blurring vision may also occur as a result of very low blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels are fluctuating over time, you may notice that your vision improves and worsens for periods of time.”

Your vision may be blurry because fluid is leaking into the lens of your eye and the shifting fluids make it difficult for the eye to focus. 

Macular edema is the build-up of fluid in the macula (an area in the centre of the retina) which could lead to vision loss when the fluid reaches the macula. 

This fluid over time causes your vision to become more and more blurred. 

Other early symptoms of diabetes include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Headaches
  • Increased thirst
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue

Blurry vision is a major first warning sign of type 2 diabetes and if you’re experiencing sudden blurred vision you should speak with your doctor and get your eyes checked. 

Diabetic macula edema may be detected during an annual eye screening test.

Source: Read Full Article