Outsmarting The Silent Sight Thief: A Diabetic’s Guide To Preserving Vision

Dengyuemed stresses that early steps not only save sight but also enhance life quality and cut long-term costs.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a “silent thief of sight“—progressing with few symptoms until it’s too late. The Global Diabetes Atlas 2025 reveals 1 in 11 adults worldwide has diabetes, including 148 million in China. With 1 in 3 diabetics developing DR, early action is essential to prevent irreversible vision loss.

Why Early Intervention Can’t Wait?

The danger of diabetic retinopathy lies in its hidden progression: retinal microvascular damage may already be underway in the early stages, yet patients may notice nothing.

Without intervention, vascular leakage and bleeding gradually worsen. In advanced stages, abnormal blood vessel growth can lead to sudden vision decline or even blindness.

Early intervention is not only crucial for preserving vision but also significantly improves patients’ quality of life and reduces long-term healthcare burdens.

Control Your Sugar, Pressure & Lipids: The Triple Shield

Unmanaged glucose, BP, and cholesterol accelerate DR. Here’s how to build your defense:

• Blood Glucose Management: Avoiding large fluctuations is key. Doctors will set individualized targets based on age and complications (e.g., fasting blood glucose of 4.4–7.0 mmol/L for younger patients). Oral medications or insulin should be taken regularly, and patients should never discontinue them without medical advice.
• Blood Pressure Control: The target should be below 130/80 mmHg.
• Lipid Regulation: High triglyceride levels can accelerate retinal vascular damage. Statins are the foundation of dyslipidemia treatment in diabetic patients.

Targeted Treatments Make A Difference

The 2024 Chinese Guidelines for Diabetes Prevention and Treatment clearly recommend that patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) benefit significantly from targeted medications in addition to managing the “three highs.”

Among these, Compound Danshen Dripping Pills, with their specific indication for Type 2 diabetes-induced Stage I and II NPDR, have become an important option.

Research on the mechanism of Compound Danshen Dripping Pills in preventing early DR showed that it significantly improves disordered cell alignment, reduces vascular permeability and oscillatory potential amplitude, restores retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and lowers the expression levels of inflammatory factors in the retina and serum.

It helps prevent early DR through vascular and neuroprotective effects. In recent years, it has been widely recommended by multiple guidelines and consensus documents.

Get Screened:Don’t Guess—Check

• Basic Examination: An annual funduscopic exam can directly reveal early lesions such as microaneurysms and hemorrhages.
• Precision Assessment: Fluorescein fundus angiography clearly shows sites of vascular leakage, while optical coherence tomography (OCT) can detect macular edema at the millimeter level, providing a basis for treatment decisions.
• Screening Frequency: Patients with no DR and well-controlled blood sugar should be screened at least every 1–2 years; those with mild NPDR every 6–12 months; moderate NPDR every 3–6 months; and severe NPDR every 3 months.

Daily Habits: Your “Free Medicine”

• Diet: Increase intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while reducing processed and high-sugar foods to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

• Exercise: 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, in sessions of at least 30 minutes, helps control blood sugar and improves ocular microcirculation.

• Smoking Cessation and Alcohol Moderation: Nicotine directly damages retinal blood vessels, while alcohol can raise blood pressure—both must be strictly controlled.

• Weight Management: Maintain a BMI between 18.5 and 23.9, with a waist circumference below 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women, to reduce metabolic burden.

DR prevention and management is like a long-term battle, and early intervention is the key to victory. Through a comprehensive strategy of “managing the three highs + medical intervention + regular screening + healthy living”.

China Medicine Wholesaler, Dengyue reminds you that the eyes of diabetic patients require “meticulous care.” The sooner you take action, the greater your chances of preserving sight.