Adult-onset diabetes, by far the most common kind of diabetes, is characterized by high levels of sugar and insulin in the bloodstream. This is a toxic state of affairs throughout the body, raising risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, blood vessel disease in the legs and nerve damage. In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the eyes deteriorate and the macula actually becomes swollen. New blood vessels begin to spring up, and hemorrhages leak blood into the fluid that fills the eyeball. Left unchecked, diabetic retinopathy will cause blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy is a good example of the eyes' health reflecting the health of the entire body.
When diabetes is well-controlled with the right diet, supplements and exercise, diabetics can often avoid taking medication and are much less likely to suffer from retinal disease. Supplements helpful for diabetic eye disease include any that keep blood sugar levels down, such as chromium , vanadyl sulfate , and alpha lipoic acid . Supplements that support blood vessel health, including magnesium , garlic , omega-3 oils , and quercetin, are also part of Dr. Rose's prescription. Save Your Sight also includes chapters on the importance of maintaining good digestion and assimilation and on how exercise helps keep vision clear. There's a chapter about the circulatory system with guidelines on how to keep blood vessels throughout the body clear and strong.