Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, causing blood sugar level to rise. An unhealthy lifestyle anddiet are some of the factors that can increase the risk of diabetes. If not treated quickly, this malignant disease can cause damage to other body organs.

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disorder that occurs in people with diabetes. It is associated with high blood sugar content in people with diabetes, which can cause blockages in blood vessels in the retina. The disorder usually does not show specific symptoms. However, if not treated quickly, the condition can cause bleeding, which results in loss of sight.

There are several ways you can do to treat diabetic retinopathy, such as injecting drugs directly into the eye, vitrectomy, or photocoagulation. For those who are still in the early stages, the disorder can still be treated by controlling their blood sugar level. In addition, a sufficient intake of vitamin A is also known to help relieve mild symptoms. Based on the results of a recent study published in The American Journal of Pathology, researchers found that vitamin A can help reduce the decrease in visual function in rats with diabetes.

As we know, vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining eye health. Vitamin A can help in the formation of proteins that will be used by the retina to absorb light, enabling it to produce optimal vision. In the study, researchers found that the condition of diabetes can cause vitamin A deficiency in the body. Vitamin A injection has been shown to improve visual function of people with diabetic retinopathy significantly. The injection can also reduce the risk of damage to the retina of the eye.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Malechka, V.V., Jianglei, C., Rui, R., et al (2020). The Single Administration of a Chromophore Alleviates Neural Defects in Diabetic Retinopathy. The American Journal of Pathology, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.03.009.
• Medical News Today - Vitamin A may help treat early vision loss in diabetes (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vitamin-a-may-help-treat-early-vision-loss-in-diabetes, 29 June 2020.