It is estimated that 70% of people with type 2 diabetes will eventually develop diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes, you should know that there are steps you can take to prevent diabetic retinopathy from developing or to slow its progression. Johns Hopkins provides advice.
About 21 million Americans have diabetes, a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Although no cure exists for diabetes, blood glucose levels can be controlled by carefully following a program of diet, exercise, and (if necessary) medication.
High blood glucose levels can damage small blood vessels in the retina, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy affects more than 4.1 million Americans age 40 and over and is more common in people with poorly controlled diabetes. One out of 12 people over age 40 with diabetes has diabetic retinopathy severe enough to cause vision loss.
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If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can take several steps to prevent diabetic retinopathy from developing or to slow its progression. Precautions include getting regular eye examinations and keeping your blood glucose and blood pressure under tight control. Blood glucose levels are considered well controlled when levels of hemoglobin A1c (used to measure blood sugar levels over time) are less than 7%.
Two large studies have proven the benefits of controlling blood glucose levels when it comes to eye health. In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, people with type 1 diabetes who gave themselves multiple insulin injections each day to attain a hemoglobin Alc level of 7% reduced their risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by 76% and the risk of their diabetic retinopathy getting worse by 54%, compared with people who followed a less rigorous treatment regimen.
In the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, people with type 2 diabetes maintaining a hemoglobin Alc level of 9% who controlled their blood glucose levels with medication were 30% less likely to have diabetic retinopathy that required laser treatment than people who relied on diet and exercise alone. As for lowering blood pressure, a recent study found that every 10-mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top number) decreased the incidence of diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic complications by 12%.
