Diabetic Retinopathy

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Other names for Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Eye Disease
Retinal Damage from Diabetes
Proliferative Retinopathy
Non-Proliferative Retinopathy

Synopsis of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Over time, high blood sugar levels weaken and damage retinal blood vessels, leading to leakage, swelling, and reduced oxygen delivery. If left untreated, it can lead to vision loss or blindness.

It typically progresses through stages, beginning with mild non-proliferative retinopathy, where blood vessels begin to weaken, and advancing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, where abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina and can bleed or cause retinal detachment.

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy:

  • Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): Early stage; involves microaneurysms, hemorrhages, and mild vision issues.

  • Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): Advanced stage; abnormal vessel growth, bleeding, and risk of retinal detachment.

  • Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): Swelling of the macula; can occur at any stage and directly threatens central vision.

Common Causes and Risk Factors:

  • Poorly controlled blood sugar levels

  • Long duration of diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2)

  • High blood pressure and cholesterol

  • Smoking

  • Kidney disease

  • Pregnancy (can accelerate progression)

  • Lack of regular eye exams

Severity Factors:

  • Retinopathy can progress silently, with no symptoms in early stages.

  • Vision loss is often irreversible once damage occurs.

  • Risk of blindness increases if diabetic eye care is delayed.

  • Early detection and blood sugar control significantly reduce progression risk.

When to See a Doctor:

  • Annual comprehensive eye exams (dilated) are essential for all diabetic individuals

  • Blurry, fluctuating, or worsening vision

  • Floaters, dark spots, or blank areas in vision

  • Difficulty seeing at night

  • Sudden vision loss or flashes of light (urgent)

Natural remedies for Diabetic Retinopathy

Tight blood sugar control: Primary method to slow or prevent damage

Control blood pressure and cholesterol: Protects blood vessels in the eye

Stop smoking: Smoking accelerates vascular damage

Eat antioxidant-rich, low-glycemic diet: Helps reduce inflammation and vascular stress

Stay active: Exercise improves insulin sensitivity and circulation

Regular eye checkups: Early treatment with laser, injections, or surgery can prevent blindness

Ingredients

These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Diabetic Retinopathy

alpha lipoic acid
alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin
anthocyanins
astaxanthin
beta-carotene
beta-tocopherol
bilberry
biotin
black currant
blueberry
chlorella
chokeberry
cryptoxanthin
turmeric
d-alpha tocopherol
delta-tocopherol
flavonols
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
green tea
hesperidin
l-carnosine
lutein
lycopene
mixed carotenoids
pomegranate
quercetin
resveratrol
rutin
selenium
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spirulina
threonic acid
tocotrienols
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
zinc
ferulic acid
polyphenols
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Anthocyanidins (unspecified)
Apigenin
Aronia melanocarpa
Alpha-Glycosyl Isoquercetin
Astragaloside IV
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Anthocyanin
Apigenin
Alpha Lipoic Acid
anthocyanin
anthocyanidins
Astaxanthin
Anthocyanins
anthocyanosides
Antioxidant (unspecified)
Argan nut oil
Apocarotenal
Apocynin
Astragalin
beta-carotene
Benzopyran
beta-zeacarotene
Boswellic Acid
Bioflavonoid
Bioflavonoids (mixed)
Bog Bilberry
Blueberry (unspecified)
Benfotiamine
Bioflavonoids (mixture)
beta-lactoglobulin
Boswellia
Blueberry
Bioflavonoids
bilberry
Biotin
Baicalin
Beta-glucogallin
Caffeic Acid
Cocarboxylase
Carnosine
Carnosine
Carotenoid
Cryptoxanthin
Cyanidin
Curcuminoid
Cryptoxanthin
Cichoric acid
Colotsrum
carotenoids
Carotenoids
Catechin
Citrus Bioflavonoids
Curcuminoid (unspecified)
carotenoids
Catechin (unspecified)
Chalcone
Coenzyme Q10
Carotene (unspecified)
Crocetin
Cyanidin-3-glucoside
Curcumin
Delphinidin
DL-Methionine
Dihydrolipoic Acid
Didymin
Dwarf Bilberry
Dipeptidylpeptidase
epicatechin
Ellagic Acid
EGCG
Epidermal Growth Factor
EGCG
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Epigallocatechin
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
epicatechin
Ferulic Acid
Flavanol (mixture)
flavan-3-ols
Flavonoid
Fulvic Acid
Flavonoids
Flavonoid (mixture)
Flavonoid glycosides
Flavonoid (mixture)
Flavanones (various)
Flavonols
Fish Oil
Ferulic acid derivative
Flavans
Fisetin
Flavanols
flavanols (various)
fibroblast growth factor
Gland (unspecified)
Glutathione peroxidase
Ginkgo Flavone Glycoside
Gluthathione
Hyperoside
Hesperidin
Hydrogen
Hesperidin
insulin
Kaempferol
L-Acetyl n-Cysteine
L-Gluthathione
L-Methionine
Lycopene
Lutein
Ligustrum
Lutein
Lipoic Acid
Lycopene
Mixed Carotenoids
Mitoquinone mesylate
Myricetin
Mountain Bilberry
Niacinamide ascorbate
N-acetylcysteine
N-Acetyl Cysteine
N-acetylneuraminic acid
Nicotinamide
Oxygen
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Oxygen
Osthole
Omega-3
Polyphenol (unspecified)
Proanthocyanidins (unspecified)
Polyphenols
Procyanidol
Procyanidin (unspecified)
Peptide (unspecified)
Phycocyanin
Proanthocyanidins
Phytoene
Proanthocyanidin
Petunidin
Polyphenols (unspecified)
Punicalagins
Proanthocyanidin (unspecified)
polyphenols (various)
Pycnogenol
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Polyphenols (mixed)
Polyphenols (npt specified)
Peptides
Quercetin
Quercetin
Resveratrol analog (unspecified)
Rutin
Rutin
Resveratrol
Resveratrol conjugates (mixed)
Selenium
Sulforophane
Salvianolic acid
SOD (Superoxide Dismutase, antioxidant activity)
Seleno Methionine
Superoxide Dismutase
Sodium Ascorbate
Sea Cucumber
Stem Cells
Selenium
Sulforaphane
Troxerutin
Ursane-type triterpenoid
Vitamin E (mixed tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (unspecified)
Vitamin A (retinol acetate)
Vitamin A (vitamin A cetate)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal)
Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocomonoenol)
Vitamin E (natural tocopherols)
Vitamin E (tocopherol ascorbyl palmitate)
Vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)
Vitamin B1 (benfotiamine)
Vitamin E (Gamma Tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (beta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol succinate)
Vitamin A (retinol)
Vitamin E (alpha tocopheryl)
Vitamin E
Vitamin A (retinyl not specified)
Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate)
Vitamin E (alpha tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate)
Vitamin E (beta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols
Vitamin E (tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (tocotrienol unspecified)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin E (delta tocopherol)
Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol)
Vitamin D (ergocalciferol)
Vitamin E (beta tocopherol)
Vitamin E (delta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed)
Vitamin C (ascorbic palmitate)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate)
Vitamin E (beta and delta tocopherols)
Vitamin E (beta-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (mixied tocopherols and tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (unspecified tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin A
Vitamin E (gamma tocopherol)
Vitamin A (vitamin A acetate)
Vitamin B3 (unspecified)
Vitamin E (alpha tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols and Tocotrienols)
Vitamin A (mixed)
Vitamin E (tocopherol not specified)
Viramin E (mixed tocopherols)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl hydrochloride)
Vitamin E (delta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed alpha-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (mixed tocotrienols/tocopherols)
Vitamin B
Vitamin E (not specified)
Vitamin E (vitamin E acetate)
Vitamin A (unspecified)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (gamma unspecified)
Verbascoside
Vitamin E (alpha tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (delta-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (tocofersolan)
Vitamine E (mixed tocotrienols)
Xanthophyll
Xanthophyls
Zinc lipoic acid
Zeaxanthin