The problem of diabetes is increasing rapidly in India and now its effect is visible in the youth also. According to the ICMR-India Diabetes 2024 study, every sixth diabetes patient in the country is below 40 years of age. Having diabetes at such a young age can cause many serious health problems in the future. One of these is diabetic retinopathy which damages the retina of the eyes. In such a situation, let us tell you today how it first affects the eyes of young diabetes patients and what is diabetic retinopathy.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which the small blood cells of the retina become weak due to constantly changing blood sugar levels. The retina is the part of the eye that detects light and helps in seeing. When blood sugar increases, these cells start swelling or bleeding and gradually new abnormal cells start forming which affects the eyesight. If it is not detected on time, it can pose a risk of complete blindness.

The highest risk is increasing in young patients

This risk is higher in patients who develop diabetes at a young age, because the duration of the disease is longer. According to the data of All India Ophthalmological Society 2025, about 12 to 15 percent of Indian diabetic patients below 40 years of age start showing early symptoms of retinopathy. Regarding this, experts say that the retina is the most sensitive part of the eye and the first effects of diabetes are visible here. There are no symptoms in the initial stage, but the damage starts from within. Therefore, it is very important to keep blood sugar under control and get your eyes examined at least once a year.

Increasing danger due to modern lifestyle

Persistent high blood sugar levels affect the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the retina. This increases oxidative stress and inflammation in the eye cells. At the same time, today’s lifestyle like eating processed food, increasing screen time, stress and lack of sleep also increases this problem. Apart from this, blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking habit further weaken the retina cells.

How to protect eyes?

• To keep your eyes safe, first of all keep your blood sugar level under control.
• Include foods like fiber, green vegetables, citrus fruits, fish, flaxseed and walnuts in your diet.
• Eat whole grains and millets instead of refined carbohydrates.
• Do 30 minutes of physical activity daily.
• Drink enough water and sleep for 7 to 8 hours.

Also read – From becoming a mother to menopause… what changes do women go through in the body, this is the journey.

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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Nowadays people are adopting various measures to keep themselves slim and fit. Some are sweating for hours by joining the gym, so there are many people who are paying special attention to their dieting. Apart from this, there are some people who are choosing other options for this, such as the use of drugs and the use of injections. These people are doing this so that they can reduce their weight as soon as possible, so that they can look smart. Although this craving to look smart can make you sick, let us tell you how the injections used for weight loss can be harmful for you.

Injection of weight loss

Nowadays medicines like OzEmpic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have become quite popular in treating diabetes and obesity. These are called GLP-1 Agonists. They act like a particular hormone in the body, which reduces hunger, loses weight and blood sugar control. But the recent two new studies showed that the use of these drugs can increase the risk of a serious eye disease. The name of this disease is NAION (Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy), which is also known as ‘I stroke’ in common language. In this, the blood flow to the vein of the eye suddenly decreases and without pain is seen completely.

Research has been done earlier too

Naion is suddenly and most people feel it while getting up in the morning when seeing one eye stops. It becomes stable in a few weeks, but about 70 percent of the people do not return completely. A study in 2024 found that diabetes patients who were taking semaglutide, the risk of naion was 4 times more. At the same time, this danger was increased by 8 times in those taking weight loss. The European Medicine Agency has considered it a very rare side effect, that is, 1 of the 10,000 cases. In the recent study, the danger is not as much as it was thought before. Out of 1,59,000 diabetes patients, only 0.04 percent received naion. At the same time, some patients also saw diseases of other optic nerve.

In addition, GLP-1 drugs may also increase the risk of diabetes retinopathy, but the good thing is that the patients on these drugs reduced the eyes and needed a low involved treatment.

What to do if you are taking these medicines?

• Get the eye tested regularly.
• Tell your doctor that you are taking GLP-1 medicines.
• Contact the doctor immediately if you are seen suddenly.
• Keep blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol control.
• Get treatment for heart health and sleep apnea.

Research is still going on, but these drugs can be taken safely with the advice of a doctor and eye specialist.

Disclaimer: Some information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, you must consult the concerned expert.

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New generation medicines being used to reduce diabetes and obesity are nowadays worldwide discussion. They are known as ‘Blockbuster Weight Loss Drugs’. But do you know that these medicines can affect your eyes health? Recently, two new studies, published in Jama Network Open, have revealed this, after which a debate has started around the world whether it is really harmful to our eyes.

What medicines are in discussion?

Semaglutide: It is a GLP-1 hormone-like medicine, which controls blood sugar and reduces appetite. It is used for type-2 diabetes and weight loss.

Tirzepatide: It also acts like a gip hormone with GLP-1, which helps insulin release and weight control.

Which eye diseases are threatened?

These drugs have been linked to two serious eye problems in studies:

Diabetic retinopathy: Due to excess blood sugar for a long time, the vein of the retina deteriorates, which can lead to blindness.

Naion (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy): Suddenly, without pain, vision loss can occur due to reduced blood flow in the vein of the eye.

What came out in research?

In the first study, in patients with type-2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs were compared to those taking other medicines. As a result, the risk of diabetic retinopathy and naion was found slightly higher than GLP-1 drugs. The good thing is that these drugs were less at risk of total blindness and the possibility of serious problems of retinopathy also declined.

In the second study, the most powerful GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide, tirzepatide) were found to be slightly increased cases of NAION and other optic nerve disorders. Both these studies have forced people to think once again.

Why was research needed?

If you talk about why it was needed, then there were indications of increasing the risk of diabetic retinopathy in the initial trial of Semaglutide about 10 years ago. After this, high-risk patients were kept out of further trial and monitoring was increased. Recently, two major research was done after the NAion case increased in a study. According to the European Medicine Agency, about 1 out of every 10,000 people who take semaglutide can have Naion. A similar study is also necessary for tirzepatide.

Should the medicine stop taking?

Experts say no. These drugs are a gamechanger in the management of diabetes and obesity. Also, their positive effects have been seen on heart, kidney and liver health.

What are the things to keep in mind?

• People who already have diabetic retinopathy must check the eyes before and after increasing the dose.
• Increase the dose gradually so that there is no sudden change in blood sugar.
• Keep better coordination between diabetes doctor and i-specialist.
• Eye safety should also be included in all future GLP-1 drug trials.

These medicines are very effective in weight and blood sugar control, but it is necessary to be cautious for the health of the eyes. From time to time, you can take their benefits with checkup and correct monitoring and reduce the risk.

Also read- You are not taking excessive vitamin D, know how much danger to kidney and heart?

Disclaimer: Some information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, you must consult the concerned expert.

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