Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye condition that occurs when the blood vessels of the retina become damaged due to diabetes. The complication develops in those with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The likelihood of developing diabetic retinopathy increases the longer you have diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar levels are. 

There are two types of this condition: Early Diabetic Retinopathy and Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy.

Early Diabetic Retinopathy

This is also known as nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and is the most common form. The walls of the blood vessels in your retina begin to weaken. Tiny bulges can protrude from these walls and may leak fluid and blood into the retina. The larger vessels that supply blood into your vitreous humor may dilate and become more irregular in diameter as well. This condition worsens as blood vessels get progressively blocked. 

If you have a buildup of fluid in the center portion of your retina it can lead to vision loss. The retinal blood vessel damage that can cause macular edema is sometimes reversible and such instances should be monitored closely by the professional specialist/doctor who has recommended treatment.

Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy can progress to a more severe stage, called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this type, the damaged blood vessels close off, growing new ones in their place. The new vessels are fragile and can start to leak fluid or blood into the clear, gel-like substance that fills the centre of your eye (vitreous), resulting in vision loss.

Scar tissue can form because of the growth of these blood cells. This can cause a tear in your retina and detach it from the back of your eye. When there is a tear in the retina, most patients’ intraocular pressure — or eye pressure — increases significantly. If the flow of fluid out of your eyeball is impaired, pressure inside your eyeball can build up and damage your optic nerve. This damage can result in glaucoma.

Symptoms 

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can take a while to develop and be noticed.

The common symptoms include:

  • Floaters – strings or spots floating in your vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Fluctuating vision 
  • Dark or empty spots in the vision
  • Vision loss

Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy

Too much sugar in your blood over a sustained period of time can lead to the blockage or narrowing of tiny blood vessels that help supply the retina, which is the site where signals from the eye are processed. New blood vessels grow to replace the blocked ones but are not as strong and can easily break and leak into your eye. 

Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy

Acupuncture for diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes is the leading risk factor for this condition, other eye condition risks include:

  • Diabetes for a long amount of time
  • Poor control of your blood sugar levels
  • High blood sugar
  • High cholesterol
  • Pregnancy
  • Tobacco use
  • African american hispanic or native descent

Complications 

Complications can be caused by progression of the condition, such as:

  • Vitreous hemorrhage
  • Retinal detachment
  • Glaucoma
  • Blindness

Our Offer to You

Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book your initial exam for $40.  Call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

To understand more about this condition you can contact us at Centre of Balance on 07 846 7956 or email info@balancetcm.co.nz. We deal with patients who suffer from diabetic retinopathy, and can diagnose the condition and offer treatment through Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.