Controlling diabetes makes a big difference in controlling or avoiding development of diabetic retinopathy.
Blood Sugar Control
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine asserts that retinopathy progresses at a slower rate when people with type 2 diabetes adhere to intensive blood sugar control rather than standard blood sugar control. There can be risks associated with intensive blood sugar control regimes that bring glucose levels to near-normal levels including increased the risk of death and severe low blood sugar, so patients should work closely with their doctors when considering a new treatment plan.
Source: LA Times
Exercise
Researchers out of Old Dominion University recommend that people with type 2 diabetics should get 150 minutes of moderate to strenuous aerobic exercise to control their condition.
They remind people that medications are the second line of treatment of diabetes; exercise and a healthy lifestyle are the first line of defense. It is possible to reduce one’s medication intake if other healthy changes are made.
Source: https://www.lef.org