Once you notice blurred vision, people with diabetes should not immediately go out and buy a new pair of glasses. This may only be a temporary problem, a rapidly developing symptom of blurred vision caused by high blood sugar.
High blood sugar causes the lens of the eye to swell and subsequently change vision. To correct blurred vision, blood glucose needs to be brought back into the target range. For many patients, the target pre-meal glucose range is 3.89 to 7.22 mmol/l, and one to two hours after a meal should be less than 10 mmol/l . Consult your doctor about your own blood glucose target range. Blurred vision may also be a symptom of a more serious eye problem. Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that people with diabetes should have the following eye exams.
- Adults with type 1 diabetes should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam within 5 years of diagnosis.
- Adults with type 2 diabetes should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam within 5 years of diagnosis.
- Adults with type 2 diabetes should receive a comprehensive eye exam soon after diagnosis.
- Patients with diabetes who are pregnant or preparing for pregnancy should receive a dilated eye exam.