Why are diabetics continuing to lose vision?

Despite growing awareness about diabetic-related vision loss, recent research suggests that most people with diabetes aren't having regular eye exams.

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that nearly 50 percent of people with diabetes and eye damage hadn't visited a doctor for care of their disease during that same time period.

Permanent blindness a concern

In people with high blood sugar levels, light-sensitive tissue that lines the back wall of the eye can become damaged. This can cause swelling of the retina and the inability to see detailed images. If left untreated, diabetic vision problems can lead to permanent blindness, the study authors noted.

"The earlier we catch diabetic eye disease, the greater the likelihood that we can help patients keep their good vision," said study author Neil M. Bressler, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and chief of the retina division at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. "Clearly this research shows how far we have to go to educate people about this frequent and feared complication."


Risk and education

The study also found that less than half of patients with diabetes were told about the link between diabetes and vision problems by their doctor. About 30 percent of patients already had some type of vision loss associated with the condition.

The researchers said that people with diabetes have at least a 10 percent risk of developing diabetic macular edema. Current treatment involves injecting drugs into the eye to reduce swelling.

Bressler explained that many diabetics fail to see eye doctors because they don't understand the risk association between diabetes and vision problems.

"We can prevent a lot of vision impairment or blindness if we can just get these people into the medical system," he concluded.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...