Diabetes

• Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among adults
• The risk factors for diabetic retinopathy are duration, poor glycemic control, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, obesity, and family history
• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is characterized by microaneurysms, hemorrhages, hard exudates, cotton wool spots, venous beading, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities, and macular edema
• The risk factors for diabetic retinopathy are poor glycaemic control, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, obesity, pregnancy, duration of diabetes, age >40 years old
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is characterized by neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, and fibrosis
• Type 1 diabetes


  Autoimmune reaction destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin (beta cells)
• The exact causes of type 1 diabetes are not known
• Type 1 diabetes


  Pancreas progressively reduces the amount of insulin it produces until it stops producing any at all
• If the amount of glucose in the blood is too high


  It can, over time, seriously damage the body's organs
• Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

  • Going for a wee more often, especially at night
  • Being constantly thirsty and not being able to quench it
  • Being incredibly tired and having no energy
  • Losing weight without trying to, or looking thinner than usual
• Insulin


  The main treatment for type 1 diabetes, you can't live without insulin injections or using an insulin pump
• Checking and managing your blood sugar levels is important to help you reduce your risk of serious short or long-term health problems (diabetes complications)
• Diet controlled diabetes


  Blood sugar levels are controlled through diet and exercise or a healthy lifestyle
• People with type 1 diabetes are unable to control their blood sugar readings from diet and exercise alone and must inject insulin along with following a healthy lifestyle
• Type 2 diabetes


  Pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level, or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced (insulin resistance)
• Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high
• Symptoms of type 2 diabetes

  • Excessive thirst
  • Needing to pee a lot
  • Tiredness
• Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms
• Type 2 diabetes


  High blood sugar levels due to the body not making enough insulin, or the insulin it makes not working properly (insulin resistance)
• High blood sugar levels over time


  Can cause other health problems like heart attacks, strokes, as well as problems with eyes, kidneys, and feet (diabetes complications)
• Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes regular health checks, support to be active, eat healthily, and maintain a healthy weight, and may require medication including insulin and checking blood sugars regularly
• Laser photocoagulation is another treatment option for DME
• Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents such as ranibizumab or bevacizumab may be used to treat DME
• Macular oedema can occur with both NPDR and PDR
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy occurs when new abnormal blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina, leading to scarring and detachment of the retina from its normal position.