Preventive Measures Help Patients with Diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy, a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries. Early detection and appropriate laser surgery can effectively prevent visual loss in these patients. Furthermore, tight control of blood glucose levels, blood pressure and serum lipid levels can reduce the risk of progression of this disease to its vision-threatening form. These strategies involve measures that require both education and compliance of the individual with diabetes mellitus and the education of physicians and other health-care professionals who deliver care to these patients.
Worldwide it is estimated that between 120 and 140 million people suffer from diabetes mellitus, and all are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. After 15 years of diabetes, nearly all patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and >50% of patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes will have some degree of retinopathy. It is estimated that by this time, approximately 2% will be blind and 10% will have severe visual impairment. Overall, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of adult blindness and visual disability in developed countries.
Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of developing severe retinal complications and visual loss. Patients with type 2 diabetes have a lower prevalence of retinopathy and tend to have less severe retinopathy; however, these patients account for about 90% of the population with diabetes and consequently comprise a larger proportion of those affected. In these patients, retinopathy may be the first sign of diabetes and vision-threatening retinopathy may already have developed by the time of diagnosis. In patients with type 2 diabetes, those requiring insulin therapy are at a higher risk for retinopathy than those who do not require insulin.
Diabetic retinopathy, a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is the leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries. Early detection and appropriate laser surgery can effectively prevent visual loss in these patients. Furthermore, tight control of blood glucose levels, blood pressure and serum lipid levels can reduce the risk of progression of this disease to its vision-threatening form. These strategies involve measures that require both education and compliance of the individual with diabetes mellitus and the education of physicians and other health-care professionals who deliver care to these patients.
Worldwide it is estimated that between 120 and 140 million people suffer from diabetes mellitus, and all are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. After 15 years of diabetes, nearly all patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and >50% of patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes will have some degree of retinopathy. It is estimated that by this time, approximately 2% will be blind and 10% will have severe visual impairment. Overall, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of adult blindness and visual disability in developed countries.
Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of developing severe retinal complications and visual loss. Patients with type 2 diabetes have a lower prevalence of retinopathy and tend to have less severe retinopathy; however, these patients account for about 90% of the population with diabetes and consequently comprise a larger proportion of those affected. In these patients, retinopathy may be the first sign of diabetes and vision-threatening retinopathy may already have developed by the time of diagnosis. In patients with type 2 diabetes, those requiring insulin therapy are at a higher risk for retinopathy than those who do not require insulin.
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