Telehealth technology may be key to adequate screening of patients with diabetes

As I discussed in a previous issue, but worth repeating, diabetes affects 382 million people worldwide, fully 3.3% of the population. The number of diabetics is expected to double in the next 20 years.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a failure to produce adequate insulin and represents about 10% of patients. It usually has an onset at a younger age and a more severe course, and the date of onset is well known. Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance and represents 90% of patients. In most cases, it is secondary to lifestyle choices increasingly prevalent in advanced countries, including a poor diet, obesity, smoking and lack of physical exercise. The exact date of onset is usually not known because the signs, symptoms and laboratory findings are more subtle.

Richard L. Lindstrom

Hypertension is a common associated diagnosis with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both diabetes and hypertension affect eye health. Once patients begin to develop diabetic eye disease, the ophthalmologist has a good opportunity to discuss appropriate lifestyle changes with the patient, and many patients who modify their behavior can essentially “cure” their disease.

Click here to read the full publication exclusive by Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, in the latest issue of Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition.