Diabetes warning: The signs in your eyes that could mean you have the disease
YOUR eyes can tell you a lot about your health.
They can flag up warning signs for a lot of conditions, including diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition caused by high levels of glucose - or sugar - in the blood.
Glucose levels are so high because the body is unable to properly use it.
In people diagnosed with diabetes, their pancreas doesn't produce any insulin, or not enough insulin.
Insulin is a hormone typically produced by the pancreas and allows glucose to enter the cells in the body, where it's used for energy.
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With type 1 diabetes, a person’s pancreas produces no insulin, but in type 2 cells in the body become resistant to insulin, so a greater amount of insulin is needed to keep blood glucose levels within a normal range.
There are several signs in the eyes that could suggest you have diabetes, or mean you need to speak to your doctor if you already know you have the disease.
Blurred vision
This might not just mean you need a new prescription.
It could also be caused by high blood sugar from underlying or known diabetes - this causes your lens to swell which then impacts what you see.
It can be corrected by getting your blood sugar back to the right range.
While it can be changed, it can take up to three months to properly revert.
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Cataracts
People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts earlier and faster.
They can become more of a problem more quickly if you have the disease.
So if you are on the younger side and have suddenly noticed a problem with your vision (cloudy, blurry, glare), get it checked out and mention diabetes to your optician.
Glaucoma
This is when fluid can't drain like it should, and pressure builds up in your eye.
This can damage nerves and blood vessels and cause vision change.
People with diabetes are more likely to have glaucoma, but it sometimes doesn't cause any symptoms until there is major vision loss.
But opticians can catch it during regular check ups.
If you are suffering with headaches, eye aches, blurred vision or watery eyes you might have glaucoma and diabetes, so it's worth getting both checked out.
If you have diabetes you are more likely to get a rare condition called neovascular glaucoma, which is when new blood vessels grow on the iris and block fluid flow.
Diabetic retinopathy
If your retina - the group of cells that take in light and turn it into images - is damaged it can cause diabetic retinopathy.
It is related to high blood sugar levels, and if it isn't treated early it can cause blindness.
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People with type 1 diabetes rarely develop it before puberty and in adults it is rare unless you've have type 1 diabetes for five years.
People who develop type 2 diabetes might have signs of eye problems they hadn't realised were linked to the condition, before being diagnosed.
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