Diabetes, a condition in which the body doesn’t readily produce or utilize insulin to control blood glucose levels, can damage the body in many different ways. Some may be surprised to learn that diabetes can adversely affect vision.

Diabetic retinopathy, often referred to as diabetic eye disease, is a serious vision condition in which high blood sugar ends up damaging blood vessels in the retina, potentially progressing to permanent vision loss if not addressed, according to DiabetesTeam, a social network for those living with type 2 diabetes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates about 30.3 million adults in the United Sates have diabetes, and 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for diabetic retinopathy and an additional eye disease known as diabetic macular edema.