Eye Disease and Blood Sugar

Retinopathy is an eye disease in which small blood vessels in the retina can become damaged, leading to blindness.  It’s one of the complications of diabetes, the disease characterized by inadequate insulin production and high blood sugar levels.   Diabetes testing measures the blood glucose (sugar) level after a person has fasted for at least 12 hours, but new research indicates that blood sugar levels measured after eating might be better indicators of risk for retinopathy.

Dr. Tien Y. Wong and his team at the University of Melbourne, Australia, analyzed studies of retinopathy involving 11,405 people.  They found that retinopathy occurs at fasting glucose levels lower than that which indicates diabetes is present.   In fact, they found no specific blood glucose level that could be considered a marker for possible retinopathy.  Sixty percent of retinopathy cases went undiagnosed when relying on the fasting glucose level for diabetes.   

The medical profession is re-thinking the way diabetes is diagnosed, as new studies show fasting glucose levels aren’t that helpful.  Cardiovascular disease, retinopathy and other problems occur at lower blood sugar levels than previously thought.   So, it’s wise not to depend on the test, and to see an eye doctor regularly to check for retinopathy.