Chandigarh: On World Diabetes Day, Experts Warn: One in Three Diabetics Develop Diabetic Retinopathy.

On World Diabetes Day in Chandigarh, eye and diabetes experts warned that one in three people with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy and urged early screening and good sugar control to prevent avoidable blindness.

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Associations Between Laser Treatment Utilization, Regional Access, and Vision-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy in Northwest Tanzania: A Retrospective Study

Background The influence of proximity to laser treatment centers on adherence and visual outcomes in patients with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) in low-resource settings is not well known. This study evaluated adherence to initial laser treatment referral and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the time of referral, before and after the installation of a regional ophthalmic laser in northwest Tanzania (TZ). Materials and methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single tertiary care institution in northwest TZ. The study included adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) who were diagnosed with VTDR by ophthalmologists at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, TZ, and referred for initial laser treatment between March 1, 2017, and May 1, 2019. Data were collected on patient demographics, VTDR classification (severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and/or clinically significant macular edema), BCVA at the time of referral, and referral adherence. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the location of available laser treatment centers at the time of their referral. The off-site group included patients referred to laser centers located out of the region before treatment became available locally. The on-site group included patients referred for laser treatment within the region after BMC began providing laser therapy for VTDR. Data from the off-site group was compared with data from the on-site group. Results A total of 68 patients were included, 32 referred off-site and 36 on-site. Referral for laser treatment on-site was associated with a greater rate of adherence compared to off-site (32/36 (89%) vs 21/32 (66%), P = 0.021). Greater adherence to on-site referrals was independent of sex (P = 0.024). The proportion of patients with at least moderate vision impairment (BCVA worse than 6/18) in the eye referred for laser was significantly higher among those referred off-site compared to on-site (23/32 (72%) vs 15/36 (42%), P = 0.012).  Conclusions Greater adherence to initial laser treatment referral and better BCVA at the time of referral, providing a better baseline visual acuity to preserve, were observed when laser treatment was available on-site (within region) compared to off-site (out of region). These findings suggest that a systematic approach to improving regional access to laser treatment for adults with VTDR in TZ who must currently travel long distances for care could help delay or prevent blindness due to VTDR. These results have broad implications for other low-resource settings; further study is recommended.

Howard G. Smith MD, AM on Instagram: "Diabetes-Associated Blindness Is Due To Low Blood Sugar Loss of vision due to retinal degeneration is a devastating complication of diabetes. Now Johns Hopkins research ophthalmologists report in the journal Science Translational Medicine preclinical studies that demonstrate how low blood sugar episodes, known as hypoglycemia, that are experienced by diabetics trigger the development of the blinding retinal damage known as diabetic retinopathy. Studying diabetic mice, the investigators discovered that levels of the protein hypoxia-inducible factor or HIF increase as blood sugar levels decline. HIF, in turn, initiates harmful retinal blood vessel leaks with exposure of retinal cells to toxic circulating elements. This leads to the retinal degeneration characteristic of diabetic retinopathy. Low blood sugar levels fail to induce this toxic chain reaction in non-diabetic mice. The best news is that a drug labeled as 32-134D capably blocks the production of HIF and the increase in retinal blood vessel permeability responsible for diabetic retinopathy. This discovery sets the stage for the development of pharmaceutical agents with similar vision-preserving capabilities. Meanwhile, if you are an insulin-dependent type 1 diabetic of any age, know that stringent control of your blood sugars should emphasize the prevention of hypoglycemic episodes. Speak with your medical team and develop insulin dosing strategies that fulfill this goal. Know how to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared with foods to counteract it. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adq5355 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506105340.htm #diabetes #hypoglycemia #hif #diabeticretinopathy #32134D"

0 likes, 0 comments - drhowardsmithreports on May 22, 2025: "Diabetes-Associated Blindness Is Due To Low Blood Sugar Loss of vision due to retinal degeneration is a devastating complication of diabetes. Now Johns Hopkins research ophthalmologists report in the journal Science Translational Medicine preclinical studies that demonstrate how low blood sugar episodes, known as hypoglycemia, that are experienced by diabetics trigger the development of the blinding retinal damage known as diabetic retinopathy. Studying diabetic mice, the investigators discovered that levels of the protein hypoxia-inducible factor or HIF increase as blood sugar levels decline. HIF, in turn, initiates harmful retinal blood vessel leaks with exposure of retinal cells to toxic circulating elements. This leads to the retinal degeneration characteristic of diabetic retinopathy. Low blood sugar levels fail to induce this toxic chain reaction in non-diabetic mice. The best news is that a drug labeled as 32-134D capably blocks the production of HIF and the increase in retinal blood vessel permeability responsible for diabetic retinopathy. This discovery sets the stage for the development of pharmaceutical agents with similar vision-preserving capabilities. Meanwhile, if you are an insulin-dependent type 1 diabetic of any age, know that stringent control of your blood sugars should emphasize the prevention of hypoglycemic episodes. Speak with your medical team and develop insulin dosing strategies that fulfill this goal. Know how to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared with foods to counteract it. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adq5355 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506105340.htm #diabetes #hypoglycemia #hif #diabeticretinopathy #32134D".

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