Diabetes is a common condition when the body does not produce enough insulin, not allowing glucose (sugar) to be broken down properly so that it can fuel the body.
There is a certain complication of diabetes where the retina, a part of the eye, is progressively damaged. This is called Diabetic Retinopathy. With no symptoms in its initial stages, diabetic retinopathy is still harmful if not treated in time. It can cause partial loss of vision, followed by a total loss of vision.
There are two types of diabetes; type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not produce any insulin, and those with this type of diabetes often need injections of insulin for the rest of their life. Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function successfully or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin.
Both of these types of diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy at different degrees. Generally, diabetic retinopathy for a diabetes patient is detected around five years after initial symptoms of diabetes.
If diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the condition of diabetic retinopathy can show a good outlook. Treatement in good time can help prevent great vision loss in 90% of diabetic retinopathy cases.