Once someone has developed diabetes, it is important to raise their awareness that managing their diabetes will reduce their risk of developing eye complications.
The best and most affordable eye care we can provide for people with diabetes is to support them to reduce their risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) through good control of their blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipids.
Optimal control of diabetes is achieved through good control of:
1. Blood sugars: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of between 6.5 and 7%. Note that intensively lowering blood glucose to 6.0% is associated with increased mortality.
2. Blood pressure of 140/80 mm Hg or lower
3. Blood lipids: Total cholesterol less than 4 mmol/l or low density lipoprotein cholesterol less than 2.0 mmol/l.