Sixteen and... Blind?

As someone who is finally sixteen, I started to think about what problems and issues many teens (or 16 year-olds) have to deal with. Then the show Sixteen and Pregnant came to mind. Unfortunately (?), I have never watched that show, but I have heard a lot about it. Fortunately, as a sixteen year old, I have to say, I haven't had to deal with that kind of problem yet.

However, one problem that I do have to deal with, and start thinking about, now that I am a year older, is going blind. As many of you probably don't know, diabetics are at a much greater risk of going blind.

In fact, according to nei.nih.gov, "Diabetic retinopathy involves changes to retinal blood vessels that can cause them to bleed or leak fluid, distorting vision. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults."

To sum it up, whenever my blood sugar fluctuates, goes too high, or low, I am increasing my chances of damage to my eyes and possible blindness. While the chances of me going blind are slim and not that likely, it's something that I will always have to be on the lookout for!

Happy 16 to me!