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Delve into the alarming rise of diabetes and diabetic eye disease, covering complications, progression, causes, indigenous impact, treatments, prevention, and the necessity for a national screening program.
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OUT OF SIGHT The Rise and Rise of Diabetes and the Need for a Nationwide Retinopathy Screening Program Dr Mohamed Dirani Health Services and Evaluative Research Centre for Eye Research Australia
Presentation Outline • Diabetesand its Complications • The Epidemic of Diabetes • Diabetic Eye Disease (diabetic retinopathy) • How common is it? • Disease progression • The causes and risk factors? • Indigenous community • Current Treatment • Prevention • Future Challenges and Take Home Messages
Diabetes and its Complications? • Diabetes is a common chronic disease • There are 2 main types of diabetes • Type 1: Failure of insulin production • Type 2: Insulin resistance • Complications of diabetes • Heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke • Kidney disease • Neuropathy • Diabetic eye disease – “diabetic retinopathy”
The Epidemic of Diabetes • Worldwide in 2013 • 382 million people were living with diabetes • A further 316 million had impaired glucose tolerance (“pre-diabetes”) • 5.1 million deaths were caused by diabetes • The number of people with diabetes is expected to rise to almost half a billion (471 million) by 2035 • In Australia in the year 2000 • Approximately 1 million adults had diabetes • The number is expected to double to in excess of 2million in the next ten years • It is estimated that up to 50% of people with diabetes have not yet been diagnosed with the disease
How Common is Diabetic Eye Disease? • Leading cause of blindness • 1 in 3 Australians have diabetic retinopathy • Of those people who have had diabetes for more than 20 years • almost 100% of those with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy
Progression of Diabetic Eye Disease • Retinopathy can be classified as either: • non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: earlier in the disease process • proliferative diabetic retinopathy: later in the disease process; characterised by new blood vessel growth and a high risk of vision loss • The leakage of fluid from blood vessels in the area of the retina responsible for detailed vision ( the macula) is known as diabetic macular oedema • this is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetes
Progression of Diabetic Eye Disease severe NPDR moderate NPDR
Diabetic retinopathy may progress to advanced stages without any symptoms • Regular eye tests and timely treatment are essential for people with diabetes
The Causes and Risk Factors • Complex disease: • contributions from genetic and environmental factors • The single most important risk factor for retinopathy is suboptimal blood glucose control • large studies have shown that careful blood sugar control can dramatically reduce the risk of retinopathy • Other important risk factors for retinopathy include • high blood pressure • high blood cholesterol (lipid) levels • Modifiable risk factors – diet and physical activity
Diabetic Eye Disease in Indigenous Australians • Indigenous Australians are at least 4 times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to develop diabetes • NIEHS: 37.9% of Indigenous Australians reported to have diabetes • Much higher proportion of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy, such as macular oedema (10%). • Progression of disease at earlier stages of diabetes
Current Treatment • Who needs treatment? People with: • proliferative retinopathy • macular oedema • Main aim is to reduce the risk of further vision • Treatments • improve control of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol • retinal laser therapy • injections into the eye • Surgery • Combination of treatments
PREVENTION is key • Optimise control of: • blood glucose • blood pressure • cholesterol • body weight • Eat a healthy diet that is appropriate for people with diabetes • consult your doctor or a dietician • Regular, moderate physical activity • Almost all cases of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy can be prevented! • Have your eyes checked regularly • by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
The need for a Nationwide Diabetic Eye Screening Program • Up to 50% do not get regular diabetic eye checks • Diabetes related blindness on the rise • No nation wide screening program in Australia • Proven screening models overseas, including Poland, Iceland, France and the UK • Recent UK reports that diabetic retinopathy is no longer the leading cause of blindness in working age adults • We are 20 years behind • We need your support to STOP avoidable blindness
Take Home Messages • Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Australian adults • It is on the rise and Australia still has no nationwide retinopathy screening program • Most vision loss from diabetes is avoidable through: • optimal control of: • blood glucose • blood pressure • cholesterol levels • AND regular eye examinations The establishment of a CRE; develop and implement a diabetic eye screening program
Acknowledgements • FRIENDS OF CERA • Novartis Pharmaceuticals • BakerIDI Heart and Diabetes Institute • Associate Professor Jonathan Shaw • Glen Cormick • Centre for Eye Research Australia • Professor Jonathan Crowston • Dr Peter van Wijngaarden • Stuart Galbraith • Emily Woodhams