Managing Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure to Protect Your Sight

If you have diabetes, you probably know how important it is to monitor your blood sugar. But did you know that your blood sugar — and your blood pressure — directly affect your eyesight? At North Suburban Eye in Wakefield, Winchester, and Waltham, Massachusetts, our experienced eye doctors help patients manage and treat diabetic eye disease, offering expert care to protect vision at every stage. With advanced diagnostic tools and a personalized approach, our team supports patients throughout the Chicago area in taking proactive steps to safeguard their sight.

How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes

High blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in your retina, the part of your eye responsible for processing light. Over time, this damage can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a condition where blood vessels leak, swell, or close off entirely. If untreated, diabetic retinopathy can progress to more serious problems such as diabetic macular edema (DME) or even permanent vision loss.

The good news is that you can dramatically reduce your risk of these complications through careful blood sugar and blood pressure management.

Why Controlling Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure Matters

Studies show that keeping your blood sugar within target range slows the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Likewise, controlling blood pressure reduces the risk of blood vessel damage in the retina. If either your blood sugar or blood pressure runs too high for too long, your risk of vision problems goes up.

Key steps include:

• Monitoring your blood sugar daily
• Following your doctor’s recommendations for diet and medication
• Keeping A1C levels within your target range
• Managing blood pressure with lifestyle changes or medication
• Attending regular eye exams to catch early signs of retinopathy

Small Changes, Big Benefits

Even modest improvements in blood sugar control can have a big impact. For example, lowering your A1C by just one percentage point can reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy progression by up to 40%. Similarly, lowering high blood pressure to healthy levels reduces the risk of vision-threatening complications.

Partner With Experts to Protect Your Vision

At North Suburban Eye, our skilled team of eye doctors works closely with patients who have diabetes. Through comprehensive exams and personalized treatment plans, we help you stay ahead of diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetes, regular eye care is one of the most effective ways to protect your vision in the long term. To schedule your diabetic eye exam, call us in Wakefield at 781-245-5200. We have additional locations in Winchester and Waltham, MA.