VIDEO: Communication essential for multidisciplinary care of diabetic eye disease

Editor’s note: This is an automatically generated transcript, which has been slightly edited for clarity. Please notify editor@healio.com if there are concerns regarding accuracy of the transcription.

Diabetic retinopathy, of course, is an indicator of the severity of the diabetes, which is a systemic disease. Although we have effective treatments for diabetic macular edema and diabetic eye disease, the patient of course needs to have compliance with their systemic control because diabetes can also affect the kidneys, the peripheral nervous system and other vessels within the body. I think good communication between the treating ophthalmologists [and] retina specialists is essential in communicating to the endocrinologist and primary care physician how the patient should also be managed with their systemic control. Multiple studies have shown that good, tight control of systemic hyperglycemia is also essential in reducing the risk for diabetic eye disease. It’s essential that ophthalmologists continue to have an open dialogue with primary care physicians and endocrinologists to work together as a team to help improve the quality of life for their diabetic patients.