Joanne R. Pompano
The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime. (34)
A healthy diet will allow diabetic patients to control blood glucose levels is an important step in preventing eye problems. To reduce the risk for complications of diabetes, including vision loss or blindness, diabetics need to control their blood glucose levels. This requires frequent testing of glucose levels and monitoring by a specialist in diabetes. (35)
The better control of blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy. Individuals who keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible had much less eye, kidney, and nerve disease. (36)
The American Diabetes Association estimates that “nearly all patients who have Type 1 diabetes for about 20 years will have evidence of diabetic retinopathy.” (37) They also calculate that “up to 21% of people with Type 2 diabetes have retinopathy when they are first diagnosed with diabetes, and most will eventually develop some degree of retinopathy.” (38)
The New England Journal of Medicine reported the results of a 10-year study named the Diabetes Control and Complications Trail in September 1993. This study indicated that when Type 1 patients improved their blood glucose levels they prevent or delayed the onset of diabetic retinopathy. It also reported that when therapy reduced blood sugar levels to close to normal they reduced the damage to the eyes by 76%. (39)
