Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.com, researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes.
I want to emphasize that my perspective is coming from one with Type 2 and not Type 1.
Our channel is primarily for those with Type 2 Diabetes and PreDiabetes.
Today I want to answer the Am I going to go blind because of prediabetes?
After you watch the video today, I invite you check out the description box for my new
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This is one of the most comprehensive diabetes meal planning book you can find.
It contains diabetes friendly meals/recipes, recipes for different goals such as 800-1800
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Let me state up front this is kind of a difficult question to answer.
I mean, there is a chance, but it is a small chance that a person with pre-diabetes will
go blind from the disease.
That being said, many with diabetes are at risk to go blind.
Let me explain with a little help from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
People with diabetes can have an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy.
This is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina.
These blood vessels can swell and leak.
Or they can close, stopping blood from passing through.
Sometimes abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina.
All of these changes can steal your vision.
Stages of diabetic eye disease There are two main stages of diabetic eye
disease.
NPDR (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) This is the early stage of diabetic eye disease.
Many people with diabetes have it.
With NPDR, tiny blood vessels leak, making the retina swell.
When the macula swells, it is called macular edema.
This is the most common reason why people with diabetes lose their vision.
Also with NPDR, blood vessels in the retina can close off.
This is called macular ischemia.
When that happens, blood cannot reach the macula.
Sometimes tiny particles called exudates can form in the retina.
These can affect your vision too.
If you have NPDR, your vision will be blurry.
PDR (proliferative diabetic retinopathy) PDR is the more advanced stage of diabetic
eye disease.
It happens when the retina starts growing new blood vessels.
This is called neovascularization.
These fragile new vessels often bleed into the vitreous.
If they only bleed a little, you might see a few dark floaters.
If they bleed a lot, it might block all vision.
These new blood vessels can form scar tissue.
Scar tissue can cause problems with the macula or lead to a detached retina.
PDR is very serious, and can steal both your central and peripheral (side) vision.
People with all types of diabetes (type 1, type 2, and gestational) are at risk for diabetic
retinopathy.
Risk increases the longer a person has diabetes.
Between 40 and 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of diabetic
retinopathy, although only about half are aware of it.
Women who develop or have diabetes during pregnancy may have rapid onset or worsening
of diabetic retinopathy.
Notice they did not count pre-diabetes in this study.
Because pre diabetes is not truly diabetes.
However, the American Diabetes Association recently published a study that said 7.6%
of those who are diagnosed with pre-diabetes have, in fact, developed diabetic retinopathy.
So the answer is you have a 7.6% chance of being legally blind if you have prediabetes.
Don’t forget to get my new ebook and please, subscribe to our channel for many more videos
like this one in the future.
Thanks for watching.
I am Ty Mason.