Saturday, April 17, 2010

Diabetes and Risk of Blindness


High blood sugar levels continuously for many years can cause complications such asdiabetic retinopathy or blindness, stroke and heart disease. One of them in the eye is called diabetic retinopathy which is a major cause of blindness in diabetics. Retinopathy refers to non-inflammatory damage to theretina of the eye, in many cases, because of problems with blood supply.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease
Research shows, in the U.S. Each year, 11,000 to 26,000 people in the United States lost their eyesight due to diabetes, and only four percent of it can be cured. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Diabetics also have a higher risk of other eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma.
The WHO in 2004 reported a 4.8 per cent of people worldwide who become blind due to diabetic retinopathy. In order cause of global blindness, diabetic retinopathy is ranked 4th after cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration (AMD = age-related macular degeneration). The main risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy is the duration of diabetes. Among patients with type-1 diabetes in the study WESDR, 8% develop all forms of diabetic retinopathy in three years after being diagnosed with diabetes, 25% at 5 years and 80% in 15 years. On average, need 15 years to stage blindness if not treated. When very heavy damage to the retina, a blind diabetic can become permanent even if an attempt is made treatment.
Diabetic retinopathy causes changes in blood vessels in the eye. In some cases, new blood vessel growth and abnormal. These new blood vessels are fragile and easily broken, so any time can bleed into the glass that fills the body cavity of the eye. long-term accumulative damage on delicate blood vessels in the retina then becomes obstructed vision or blind. After 15 years of diabetes, approximately two percent of diabetics become blind and about 10 percent will experience poor vision problems.
The main principle in dealing with diabetic retinopathy is controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The good news, they are already experiencing signs of diabetic retinopathy can be helped with laser surgery.
How Does Diabetes Cause Blindness?
High blood sugar levels continuously over the years can cause complications, especially in the eyes, heart, and kidney. “When you have diabetes, always monitor blood sugar levels and do regular eye examinations. When a problem is found early, the eye can still be prevented,” said Dr.Xinzhi Zhang, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S..
It is estimated that the number of diabetics worldwide will increase from 133 million in 2003 to 346 million in 2020. In Asia predicted diabetes will become “epidemic”, due to the Asian people eating a high carbohydrate and fat along with lack of exercise. As a result, blindness due to diabetic retinopathy is also expected to increase dramatically.
The patients with type 2 diabetes are also advised to direct his eyes checked once diagnosed with diabetes because it is difficult to know since when a person has diabetes. So, if you have any problems with blurred vision and  do not buy a new pair of glasses. Why? because actually it is caused by your diabetes develops rapidly and is caused by high blood sugar levels . Periodic eye examinations should be performed every year.
Meanwhile, people who suffer from diabetes type 1 (mostly children and adolescents) may not be immediately checked her eyes but still needs regular check-ups afterwards.
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