Diabetes is known for its impact on blood sugar but one of the first and often overlooked warning signs may appear right in front of your eyes—literally. Changes in vision might be the first sign. These early signs of diabetes in eyes and diabetic eye symptoms often appear before traditional diabetes symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated 30.3 million adults in the United States have diabetes, and nearly 90% of them have Type 2 diabetes—a condition in which your body becomes resistant to insulin and has difficulty regulating normal blood sugar levels. While the disease is usually linked to complications such as neuropathy or kidney disease, your eyes may be the first organ to exhibit signs of suffering.

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The eye is a sensitive organ covered in a close network of blood vessels, particularly in the retina—the thin layer of tissue at the back of your eye that facilitates vision. High blood sugar levels over time can hurt these small blood vessels, making them become inflamed, leaky, or clogged. That's called diabetic retinopathy, and it's one of the first—and possibly most destructive—complications of diabetes.

Over one-third of working-age population with diabetes already have signs of diabetic eye disease, and it is still a major cause of blindness among this group. Many are also unaware they have it—until their eyesight is already compromised.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy often progresses painlessly and without any signs, at least in its early stages. That's why regular eye exams are so important—despite your vision appearing completely normal.

If left uncontrolled, diabetic retinopathy may result in impaired or even complete vision loss. Worse, the damage tends to be permanent. Early detection and therapy can slow or even prevent progression, but the secret is to be vigilant and preventive.

Early Signs of Diabetes in Eyes You Can't Ignore

Floaters

Tiny specks, cobwebs, or worm-like forms floating in your line of sight are usually harmless. But a sudden proliferation of floaters—particularly if there's blurred or obscured vision—may indicate bleeding into the retina, a symptom of diabetic retinopathy.

Dark Spots

Any dimming of vision or blind spots, especially in the central visual field, are warning signs. These "blockages of vision" can indicate swelling of the retina or hemorrhaging—and need to be seen by an ophthalmologist right away.

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Blurred Vision

Changes in blood sugar levels can disrupt your eye's ability to focus, causing fleeting or ongoing blurring. This can make it harder to read, drive, or identify faces and can continue to get worse if left unchecked.

Vision Loss or Shadows

Partial blindness, i.e., reduced peripheral vision or inability to see in dim light, can be a sign of advanced retinopathy or retinal detachment. Vision can even black out for a short time—a warning of extreme vascular damage.

If you have any of these symptoms, even if you don't have diabetes, it is important to consult an eye care professional immediately.

What Causes Diabetic Eye Damage?

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood glucose levels start damaging the tiny blood vessels of the retina—the light-sensitive nerve tissue at the back of the eye. The vessels can become clogged, leak fluid or blood, or cause new and fragile, abnormal vessels to grow through a process known as neovascularization. This cascade can result in swelling, inflammation, scarring, and, eventually, retinal and optic nerve damage. In bad cases, the retina can come loose or fluid will pool in the macula (the retina's center portion), producing a condition called macular edema. These issues can lead to permanent loss of vision if left untreated.

Even though any diabetic is susceptible to developing diabetic retinopathy, there are some populations that are particularly at risk. These include those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, especially those with poorly managed blood glucose levels. Pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes and individuals who have had diabetes for longer than five to ten years have a higher risk of retinal complications. Those with coexisting conditions like high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol are at even greater risk, as these issues can accelerate the damage to blood vessels in the eyes. Research indicates that up to 75% of people with Type 1 diabetes will develop some form of retinopathy, while approximately 50% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes show signs—often within the first decade following diagnosis.

Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Cured?

Regrettably, diabetic retinopathy has no cure. The condition can be prevented from worsening if intervention is made early. Thanks to the advancements in medical technology, a number of treatment avenues can be employed. Anti-VEGF injections are usually used to prevent abnormal vessels from growing on the retina. Laser therapy is also an effective method that involves destroying leaking vessels and preventing vision loss. In more serious instances, vitrectomy surgery might be necessary to eliminate scarring tissue or blood within the eye. Most importantly, the most important thing is to control diabetes properly—adhering to healthy blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol can go a long way in preventing serious eye complications in the long run.

Protect Your Vision with These 3 Non-Negotiable Steps

If you’ve noticed floaters, blurriness, or dark spots, don’t dismiss them. These could be more than visual annoyances—they might be early cries for help from your body. Although it's clear that preventive care, lifestyle changes, and monitoring are your best weapons against diabetes-related blindness.

1. Prioritize Lifestyle Interventions

Exercise, proper diet, and weight control are important. Include low-impact activity such as walking, yoga, or swimming. Follow a diet with high fiber, antioxidants, and whole grains and reduce saturated fats and refined carbohydrates.

2. Monitor Blood Sugar and A1C Levels

Regular blood sugar checks and routine monitoring of A1C levels (which measure average glucose over three months) can help you detect and correct abnormal trends. Aim for an A1C below 7%, or as recommended by your healthcare provider.

3. Don’t Skip Eye Exams

Your diabetes care regimen should include a dilated eye exam once a year. These tests alone can detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy. More frequent examinations may be warranted if risks or symptoms rise.

Your vision is not simply a measure of how well you see—it's literally a window to your overall health. In some cases, eye problems might be the first sign that you have diabetes. That's why receiving regular eye exams—even in the absence of obvious symptoms—is a key component of preventive care.

September is observed as Suicide Prevention Month, a reminder to talk about mental health, intervene early, and build systems that prevent lives from being lost. This year, much of the conversation has shifted to technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which is becoming a more common entry point for people seeking help.

But can AI truly support people in crisis? Or does it risk creating a false sense of care that could turn deadly? To explore these questions, we spoke to Dr. Amit Malik, a psychiatrist and mental health advocate, about the potential and pitfalls of using AI in mental health care.

Comfort vs. Clinical Care

In recent months, there have been troubling cases where AI chatbots provided unsafe or even harmful advice, including encouraging self-harm. For Dr. Malik, this highlights a deeper problem.

“Feeling heard is not the same as being helped,” he explains. “Empathy in tone does not equate clinical judgment, and without that distinction, technology risks creating a dangerous illusion of care.”

The danger lies in how “human-like” AI can sound. A warm response might comfort someone temporarily, but without the ability to assess risk or recommend a safe intervention, it could delay someone from seeking real help, sometimes with tragic consequences.

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Building Guardrails Around AI

Experts agree that AI systems in mental health must be developed with strict safeguards. Dr. Malik stresses that this means embedding clinical oversight at every stage, from design to deployment.

Every AI feature, he says, should be co-designed with experienced clinicians, tested in real-life scenarios, and reviewed for risks before being rolled out. Safety protocols should go beyond keyword detection, with systems trained to pick up subtle markers of risk, such as hopelessness or withdrawal, and respond appropriately.

The goal is not to replace therapists but to ensure that if someone expresses suicidal thoughts, the system can pause the interaction, offer empathetic reassurance, and redirect them toward human help, whether that’s a helpline, an on-call clinician, or emergency services.

Can AI Help Close the Care Gap?

India’s mental health treatment gap is stark: fewer than 10,000 psychiatrists and psychologists serve over a billion people, with most concentrated in major cities. In many districts, there are no specialists at all. Cost, stigma, and distance further prevent people from seeking care.

Against this backdrop, AI could serve as an accessible first step, if used carefully.

1. Triage and Signposting

AI systems can be available 24/7, providing a low-barrier entry point for someone in a remote village or a teenager who cannot talk openly about mental health at home. While AI cannot treat mental illness, it can assess risk, provide basic information, and guide people to the right resource, from crisis helplines to counselling services.

2. Supporting Clinicians

A large share of a clinician’s day goes into documentation and administrative work. AI can assist by transcribing session notes, summarizing treatment plans, and automating routine tasks, freeing up time for therapists to focus on listening, assessing, and intervening.

3. Continuity Between Sessions

Recovery often depends on what happens between therapy sessions. AI can act as a gentle reminder, prompting users to reflect on their progress, practice coping strategies, and stay engaged. This sustained support can improve retention and outcomes over time.

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The Limits of AI in a Crisis

Despite its promise, experts remain cautious about relying on AI during mental health crises.

“Crises demand rapid assessment, nuanced decision-making, and the ability to respond to subtle cues in real time, things that AI simply cannot replicate today,” Dr. Malik says.

AI can help by flagging concerning patterns, such as repeated expressions of hopelessness, and alerting a clinician sooner. But it cannot replace the work of sitting with a person in distress, understanding the context of their feelings, and making the split-second judgments needed to keep them safe.

Conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression often require medication, hospitalization, or a multidisciplinary team, psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, and caregivers, working together. No algorithm can hold someone through a manic episode or guide them in rebuilding routines after hospital discharge.

Designing for Safety, Not Just Scale

The real challenge, experts say, is not deciding whether AI belongs in mental health, but figuring out how to use it responsibly. When done right, AI could widen access, ease clinician workload, and help sustain engagement. When done wrong, it risks offering “care” without substance, and leaving vulnerable people more isolated than before.

For Suicide Prevention Month, the message is clear: technology is only as good as the systems and people behind it. AI can be a powerful tool, but human judgment, empathy, and connection must remain at the centre of mental health care.

Deadly falls among seniors have nearly tripled in the last 30 years and experts say certain common prescription drugs may be to blame.

As you get older, many activities we took for granted, whether it was moving at a fast pace, good digestion and even our ability to tolerate heat, all of these and more become difficult. However, there has been an alarming rise in the number of elderly people who are having fatal falls.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 14 million elderly falls are reported every year and 37% of these falls result in medical treatment. What’s surprising is that fall death rate, that used to be 55.3 per 100,00 older adults in 2012 has become 78 per 100,000 older adults in 2021. The CDC attributes the rise of number to medicines that may increase fall risk or poor strength and balance, and this may hold more truth than you realize.

Some experts believe that a rise in a specific category of drugs, known as fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), may be to blame for the increase in deadly falls among older adults. In a recently published paper in JAMA, public health expert Dr. Thomas Farley writes that lifestyle changes alone can't explain why fall-related deaths in seniors have tripled over the past 30 years, and he points to the growing use of these prescription medications.

What Are These Medications That Increase Fall Risk?

FRIDs are medications that can increase a person's risk of falling by causing side effects that affect their body and mind. These drugs can make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or unbalanced, which makes it much easier to lose your footing and fall. The most common and concerning FRIDs are those that act on the brain and nervous system, including

• Opioids (for pain)
• Benzodiazepines (for sleep and anxiety)
• Gabapentinoids (for nerve pain)
• Antidepressants

Can Medicine Really Increase Risk Of Falling?

To see how FRIDs affect elderly safety, a 2024 study published in the BMC geriatrics followed 2,157 healthy adults aged 70 and older for three years. At the start, researchers checked if the participants were taking any FRIDs. They then kept track of how many falls each person had over the three-year period, including those that caused an injury. They also looked at if people were taking just one FRID or multiple ones. The results showed a clear link between taking FRIDs and an increased number of falls.

Higher Risk with Just One Drug: Seniors taking at least one FRID were 13% more likely to fall, and 15% more likely to have a fall that resulted in an injury.

Risk Doubles with Multiple Drugs: The risk was much higher for those taking two or more FRIDs. They were 22% more likely to fall and an even more serious 33% more likely to have an injurious fall.

The study concluded that even among healthy older adults, taking these medications is linked to a higher risk of falling, which can lead to serious injuries.

How Can We Lower the Risk Of Fall-Related Deaths In The Elderly

In the paper, Dr. Thomas Farley recommends that doctors avoid prescribing many of these high-risk drugs to older adults. The medical community needs to make a larger, more organized effort to stop inappropriate and dangerous prescribing.

This includes doctors reviewing their patients' medications and using new technologies to identify those who are on FRIDs. By taking this problem seriously and making changes, experts believe that at least two-thirds of the more than 25,000 preventable fall deaths that happen each year can be avoided.

For the first time since the pandemic began, COVID-19 is no longer one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. According to new data from the CDC, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 2020. However, the number of deaths has dropped significantly from its peak of over 463,000 in 2021 to about 47,000 in 2024. This is a major improvement, though the virus is still among the top 15 causes of death.

Have The Death Rates Dropped In The US?

Overall, the United States saw a 4% drop in deaths last year, which marks the third year in a row that this has happened. This positive trend was observed across most age groups and among people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Despite this overall improvement, some groups still face higher death rates. For example, death rates are higher for men than for women, and they are also higher for older adults and for Black Americans compared to other groups.

Which Groups Were Affected The Most?

Even with the overall improvement, the report shows that death rates are not the same for everyone. When looking at racial and ethnic groups, the death rate was highest for the Black population at 884 deaths per 100,000 people, while it was lowest for multiracial people at 332.3 per 100,000.

When it comes to age groups, the death rate was lowest for children between 5 and 14 years old, at 14.4 deaths per 100,000. As expected, the rate was highest for people aged 85 and older, at a very high 13,835.5 deaths per 100,000. Experts say that healthy lifestyle choices, like eating well and staying at a healthy weight, are some of the best ways for people to reduce their risk from many of the leading causes of death.

What Remain The Leading Causes Of Death In US?

The leading causes of death in the U.S. remain chronic diseases. Heart disease and cancer are the top two, responsible for over 40% of all deaths combined. In 2024, heart disease caused 683,492 deaths, and cancer caused 619,876 deaths. So to list it, the top causes of death in US according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in 2024 remain,

• Heart Disease: 683,492 deaths
• Cancer: 619,876 deaths
• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 197,448 deaths
• Strokes: 166,855 deaths
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 145,643 deaths
• Alzheimer's disease: 116,022 deaths
• Diabetes: 94,445 deaths
• Kidney disease: 55,081 deaths
• Chronic liver disease: 52,274 deaths
• Suicide: 48,821 deaths