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11/12/09 05:37 PM

"I have read that bringing your BG down quickly can cause damage to the eyes. Is this true? And how?"

Asked By: fiercekitten

Category: Other

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For example: if you have BG of 300 and drop it to 120 in a week's time..can this cause blindness? I remember reading somewhere in a blog or something that the author believed that they had brought their BG numbers down too rapidly and that it had contributed to their blindness. Just wondered if that could happen and how it could happen.

Expert Answers (2)

11/14/09 02:20 PM

Thanks for writing dLife. It is true that blood glucose variability can certainly cause visual changes because of fluid shifting from sugar levels in the lens of the eye. This can occur at the onset of diabetes as well as when blood sugar levels are fluctuating. This condition can be only temporary and improve when blood sugar levels are more stable. However, other more serious diabetic eye disease can also be present and this typically involves changes to the blood vessels in the eyes which may have no symptoms at all until advanced damage occurs. This is why it is very important to have your eyes examined on a regular basis- at diagnosis of diabetes and at least once a year unless otherwise directed by your physician. And if you experience any changes in your eyesight at all contact your eye doctor immediately for specific advice. Keeping a careful log of your blood glucose levels as well as your blood pressure is very helpful, as both can influence the presence and progress of diabetic eye disease.

Answered By: Janice Baker

Accreditations: B.Sc., MBA, RD, CDE, CNSC

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11/14/09 02:58 PM

Hello FierceKitten: Thank you for asking dLife, and bring your concern to the experts. The question you present is interesting, however, one explanation I would offer could be, it was a coincidence, the change in eye sight merited a doctor's visit and possibly many other medical interventions, and due to long term uncontrolled glucose levels the vascular areas to the eyes were impaired. Unfortunate, I am not aware of this complication occurring, in direct result from getting the blood sugar levels within range, (always<140-180 mg/dl per ADA/AACE)

Complications from diabetes can result in problems, classified as short-can be resolved quickly when glucose levels come to within normal ranges, or long-term complications, those resulting from many years of having the disease, sometimes controlled and uncontrolled. Uncontrolled glucose levels (>180 mg/dl ADA) fuel a metabolic pathway that causes injury to nerves. This injury takes a while, several years, beginning in the smallest vessels of the body, these areas may include:

the eyes,

kidneys,

heart,

but not restricted to these areas alone and

occur in no particular order, although some parallel has been suggested, each person is unique.

Your best defense against complications are keeping the blood glucose and blood pressure levels in as normal range as possible! The closer your control to normal, the less likely you develop, and delay or deter any form of complications.

A landmark study from '83-'93 (the DCCT), concluded "those who kept their blood glucose levels close to normal, had fewer complication than people whose blood glucose levels were higher." An additional study, UKPDS-longest and largest study of Ty2 to date, found: those maintaining tight blood glucose tight blood pressure control reduced the risk of stroke, and diabetes-related deaths.
Blood pressure<130/80

Tcholesterol<200

HDL>50

LDL<100

Tgs<150mg/dl. Be your best, regards Sue

Answered By: Susan Throop

Accreditations: RD, CDE, MA

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(2 Answers)

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