This week’s topic is diabetic retinopathy or vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss for anyone between the ages of 20 to 74 years old. People with type I diabetes lose 25% of their vision after 5 years of being diagnosed with diabetes and 80% after 15 years of the disease. Up to 21% of people with type II diabetes have some degree of vision loss at the time they are initially diagnosed with diabetes. Pregnancy, puberty and an improper ophthalmic examination increases the chance of someone with diabetes to develop retinopathy. The good news is 90% of vision loss is preventable. Here are some guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to help control retinopathy:

• Make sure to have a comprehensive examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist at the time you are diagnosed with diabetes. If you plan to become pregnant get screened prior to conception and during your first semester of pregnancy. The examiner needs to have experience in diabetic retinopathy. The free eye screening at the local mall may not be enough.

• Try to get screened for diabetic retinopathy annually. Some doctors may recommend you be screened every 2 to 3 years. Ask your eye specialist.


• Keep tight blood sugar and blood pressure control. Meeting your blood sugar and blood pressure goals are the keys to fighting eye disease.

• If you are in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, laser photocoagulation treatment may prevent vision loss.


If you have any questions about diabetic retinopathy of any of my blogs, email me at askard@stablebloodsugar.com. Allison