As an eye doctor, I hope (and even at times, take for granted) that my diabetic patients understand the possibility of developing diabetic retinopathy. However, as a daughter to a diabetic mother who is in denial, the reality is that not every sick person with diabetes, despite education, accepts this serious eyesight disease exists. The frightening reality is that according to new research by an epidemiologist (Dr. Zhang, Atlanta), some form of diabetic retinopathy is found in approximately one in three diabetic patients.
An even more predicted statistic is that in the United States the whole one cause of vision loss in people age 20-74 is diabetic retinopathy. It is present more in men than women and in blacks and Mexican Americans more than Caucasians. That doesn't mean if you are a white female diabetic sick person that you are any less susceptible, especially if you demonstrate other risk factors such as a higher A1C level, elevated cholesterol or lipids, and a longer period of diabetes.
In fact, a modern study performed by a National Eye produce (Nei) ophthalmologist, Dr. Emily Chew, showed that diabetic patients living with type 2 diabetes for approximately a decade can sacrifice their risk of retinopathy by maintaining precise blood sugar operate and taking medications to lower blood levels of cholesterol and other fats. Dr. Chew and other researchers found that there was a 33 percent less likelihood that type 2 diabetic patients who aggressively reduced their blood sugar over a four-year period would produce retinopathy. An ideal level of long-term blood sugar operate or Hemoglobin A1C is 6.5 or lower.
The same study demonstrated that type 2 diabetics who were treated with a drug composition of cholesterol-lowering medication, Simvastatin, and lipid-lowering medication, Fenofibrate, were 40 percent less likely to produce retinopathy over four years as compared to those receiving Simvastatin alone. The plan process is that this will lower diabetic patients' cardiovascular risk and maybe the basic biological process under which retinopathy develops.
This supports a hopeful upcoming trend of inhibitive medicine. Why should we wait for retinopathy to develop? Treating diabetic retinopathy can involve more invasive methods such as steroid injection, laser procedures and even intraocular surgery. Keeping along the lines of cardiovascular health, it is customary and supported by old research and studies that having well controlled blood pressure (whether straight through exercise, diet or medication) also lessens the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
I wish I could say that all diabetic patients that consequent these recommendations will not produce retinopathy but as in any type of rehabilitation there are no guarantees. Some of those unfortunate patients who adopt or adhere to the above advice may still succumb to retinopathy.
If you have diabetes and you are not currently following a regimen as described above, at least have a discussion with your former care physician or endocrinologist to see if it is safe and if you would benefit from such inhibitive treatment.
Either way, during your next dilated eye exam, which should be at least annually or more frequent depending on any whole of retinopathy, be prepared to retort questions with regard to your Hemoglobin A1C level, your cholesterol and lipids/triglycerides and ultimately your blood pressure. I don't know if my mother would be prepared despite my plea (I may be an eye doctor, but she still thinks she knows better as the parent) but I expect now, you will be!
Note: Consult your physician first to make sure my recommendations fit your special health needs.
Cholesterol, Blood Sugar & Diabetic Retinopathy
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