Ophthalmologist recommends low carb for improved vision and health

"How are doctors using low-carb diets to help their unique patient populations? Meet Mexican ophthalmologist Dr. Ana Lorenzo, who is helping reverse her patients’ diabetic retinopathy.

As a specialist cataract surgeon in Mexico City, Dr. Ana Lorenzo is an expert in the delicate operation that removes the cloudy lens from a patient’s eye and replaces it with an intraocular lens for clearer vision.

As part of her post-surgical care, she always closely examines her patients’ retinas. She hopes she will find that she’s not too late to help them protect, and even improve, their vision. And a low-carb diet is one her favourite tools to help.

When she examines the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that is essential for vision, she is looking for evidence of diabetic retinopathy.

Chronically high blood sugar, as well as uncontrolled high blood pressure, damages the retina’s intricate blood vessels. Such diabetic damage is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the world.

Research shows that people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cataracts, so her surgical population is already at higher risk of having diabetes, and therefore having some damage to their retinas, even if it’s not yet been diagnosed.

Dr. Lorenzo sees evidence of diabetic retinopathy all too often.

“In Mexico, diabetes and prediabetes are frequent problems,” says Dr. Lorenzo, explaining that Mexico has among the highest rates of diabetes among developing countries. Undiagnosed diabetes is common.

“Many of my patients don’t know they have diabetes or prediabetes, “ Dr. Lorenzo says. “But I can see evidence of diabetic retinopathy when I look in their eyes.”"

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A variety of articles and recipe ideas are within this blog, but please note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan