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Diabetic eye disease refers to a number of diseases that may occur if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. When you think of diabetes, eye problems are likely not the first thing that comes to mind. However, serious damage can be caused to the blood vessels in the eye when blood sugar levels in the body rise above normal. Some of the common eye diseases include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. Though anyone can develop some of these eye diseases, diabetes increases the chances of developing these issues. 

Here are a few tips for dealing with diabetic eye disease:

1. Manage your blood sugar levels

It’s important that your blood sugar levels aren’t too high or low. One way to manage this is to focus on how your diet can affect you in the long run. For example, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars when they enter the bloodstream. This causes your blood sugar levels to rise and signals the pancreas to release insulin. As a result, the cells in your body absorb the sugar, which ultimately causes blood sugar levels to drop.

Another simple health tip to keep your blood sugar levels in check is to make sure you stay hydrated. We recommend keeping a water bottle on you throughout the day! Taking preventative measures to avoid a blood sugar spike will reduce your chances of diabetic eye disease down the road.

Eating appropriate foods to manage glucose levels is essential, but it doesn’t have to be daunting! Ease the stress of having to research and plan meals by following a meal plan. You can find meal-planning tips and recipes here.

2. Be active

Another great way to help control blood sugar levels is to get moving. Exercise and light activity can increase the sensitivity of cells to insulin, and also cause muscle cells to absorb sugar from the blood. For some people, exercising is easier said than done, so don’t be afraid to go at your own pace. Start with a slow 10-minute walk a few times a week and build from there. Any form of movement will have a similar positive effect on blood sugar levels. 

If you’re not used to maintaining an active lifestyle and need help making it a regular part of your daily routine, ask a friend or family member to join you and hold you accountable. Find something you enjoy doing and are likely to keep up with. Whether it be a daily stretching routine or practicing fundamental workouts 3 or 4 times a week, make sure it’s not something you dread. Our body is made to move and be active, so when you feel unmotivated, remind yourself of the immeasurable benefits. Exercising will help maintain blood sugar levels, which will in turn help prevent vision problems in the future!

3. Get yearly eye exams

While yearly eye exams are important for all individuals, they are crucial to those who live with diabetes. It is essential to stay on top of vision care if you’ve been diagnosed with this disease. Eye problems left untreated or undiagnosed can lead to vision damage and even blindness. Some symptoms to be aware of are blurry vision, difficulty reading, “floating” spots, or seeing objects in the distance. If any of these symptoms arise, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as it can prevent the issue from getting worse.

Even if you haven’t noticed the effects of your diabetes on vision, yearly eye exams are a great way to track your eye history and keep an eye on any changes that may arise. Your yearly eye exam is a great way for your doctor to check for small changes. Your vision can change very frequently, and people with diabetes are more likely to experience changes at an even greater rate, making updated prescriptions that much more important. Eyeglasses are a wonderful option if you begin feeling the effects of diabetic eye disease as they can help you see more clearly until you get your blood sugar levels under control.

A diagnosis of diabetes comes with a slew of new worries and responsibilities in caring for your health. Vision care is often put on the back burner, but it’s important to practice preventative care options to protect your eyes now and in the future. Implement a few of these tips into your daily routine to help prevent diabetic eye disease from developing.

The post Diabetic Eye Disease: How to Manage It appeared first on Mighty Well Journal.

Getting a new diagnosis can bring on complicated emotions. You may be relieved to finally get answers, scared of the future, and overwhelmed by the amount of information out there. If you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, the good news is that plenty of research and resources are available to guide your journey! To get started, here are some tips we’ve gathered from chatting with our diabetic Friends in the Fight.

1. Find support in the diabetics community

Living with any chronic illness can feel isolating. The best treatment for isolation is community! Find people who understand what you’re going through, and help educate those already close to you who may not understand.

Support groups can be a great place to start. It’s nice to have an outlet to vent your frustrations or worries, knowing that other people have all been there. It can also be a great sounding board for questions that only someone with your experience can answer. My first question in a support group was how to find bras that didn’t hurt, given my spinal pain. Doctors were baffled by this question, but my fellow patients immediately had a flood of answers. Even if you don’t post in a group, you can read other people’s questions and learn from the sidelines.

Each of the organizations listed in our diabetes resource guide offers a community with local chapters for you to meet people in your area if you find that an in-person community would be helpful. Mighty Well also offers our Friends in the Fight group that you are more than welcome to join. It is for all people affected by chronic illness, not just those specifically diagnosed with diabetes.

Depending on your age, diabetes camps can be the best way to build a community of people who get it without having to focus on your illness. You simply have fun together, build friendships, and experience all that summer camps offer with people going through similar experiences. You can find a camp near you here.

For building support with your existing friends and family, understand that it may take time, patience, and work to get people where you need them. Our healthy loved ones have to go through their own process of grief, helplessness, and acceptance and need to witness our struggles before they can fully build empathy for what we go through. It is so worth it when you do reach that point. Check out celebrating the heart of your relationships, our guide to difficult conversations, and maintaining healthy relationships despite chronic illness for tips to get you there faster.

2. Food tips specifically for diabetics

Finding joy in food can feel near-impossible when everything you eat is a math equation with dire consequences. Having some go-to carb-free foods available will give your brain a break. Note: the organizations listed in this resource guide also have ample recipes available (yes, they are awesome, all-encompassing sources of information and healing).

3. Diabetes tech tips

The technology available now for managing diabetes is amazing. Remember that there’s no best way to do this – you can choose what works best for you. Even if you enjoy all the benefits of high-tech pumps and apps, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a break. One Friend in the Fight tells us she loves her pump but chooses to take “pump vacations” every now and then to unplug and just use pens for a bit. You do you, whatever style feels right!

As an aside, sometimes the skin at your pump site can get irritated from adhesives. You may try Flonase spray on the area to help soothe allergies and irritation.

4. Staying organized with diabetic supplies

It can be exhausting keeping track of treatments, blood sugar, and all the other complicated factors that come with being diagnosed with diabetes. Find ways to reduce your brain’s load. Use your phone for alarms and diabetes apps. Use organizers to keep all of your gear in order and easily accessible. 

Check out Mighty Well’s diabetes backpack and organizer here!

5. Take one step at a time

The most important thing to remember when it all gets overwhelming is that you can do this, and you will. Take it one step at a time, look to role models who’ve been doing it longer than you, and just do your best — whatever that looks like each day!

Oh, and remember that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re far from it. ?

The post Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What? appeared first on Mighty Well Journal.

Diabetes and its myriad impacts on daily life are complicated to navigate. Thankfully, there are ample resources available to help guide you through life with diabetes. So wherever you are on your journey – newly diagnosed and overwhelmed, an old-timer looking for fresh tips, or just someone trying to learn to better support a diagnosed Friend in the Fight – we’ve put together this diabetes resource guide to get you started.

Understanding the types of diabetes diagnoses

One crucial aspect of diabetes is that it can be different for each person. For starters, different types of diabetes involve different causes, risk factors, treatments, and complications. Even within each type, the presentation of symptoms and impact on quality of life can vary widely. 

For a comprehensive guide to the many different types of diabetes (yes, there are more than just 2), check out this guide from Beyond Type 1.

1. American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association has a wealth of resources on each type, from treatment and recipes to building a strong community. They are also leaders in diabetes research and advocacy.

2. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) fights for Type 1 patients through research, political advocacy, and patient support. Their resource center is thorough, well organized, and engaging, and helps to provide community through support groups, as well as online and in-person events.

3. Beyond Type 1

Despite the name, Beyond Type 1 offers support for patients with all types of diabetes. The website is easy to access and although it seeks to engage a younger audience, it contains a vast depth of information and resources for all ages. They even have a “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll” section dedicated to topics typically avoided or taboo yet so necessary to actually living a full life with diabetes.

Note: JDRF and Beyond Type 1 teamed up to create Jesse Was Here, a beautiful resource for family members grieving someone lost to diabetes.

4. At-home resources to avoid diabetes complications

Health complications caused by diabetes can be serious, so it’s important to be in frequent contact with your doctor and care team about how to avoid these issues. For at-home resources, here are a few helpful tips from the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and American Diabetes Association.

5. Resource to help fight stigma when diagnosed with diabetes

The unfortunate reality is that diabetes diagnoses are often met with stigma. This thorough resource from DiaTribe (another fantastic organization to check out!) helps break down this stigma, where it comes from, why it is harmful, and how to combat it when you see it.

Other resources:

• Find a diabetes camp near you
• Top 10 Tips for People Diagnosed With Type 1
• Top 10 Tips for People Diagnosed With Type 2 
• American Diabetes Association’s resources for newly diagnosed

We hope that this diabetes resource guide will provide helpful resources no matter where you are in your journey!

The post 5 Diabetes Resources That Will Empower You appeared first on Mighty Well Journal.