Originally published July 8 2005
Diabetes patients need essential yearly eye checks
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
By 2007, everyone with diabetes should by screened for retinopathy, an eye condition which causes blindness. Research shows that if it is treated early, blindness can be prevented in 90 percent of cases.
More action is needed to ensure people with diabetes receive essential yearly eye checks, campaigners say.
By 2007, everyone with diabetes should by screened for retinopathy, an eye condition which causes blindness.
The claims came as Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced education programmes for people with diabetes.
Ms Winterton has also said retinopathy screening was a "key priority" for the government.
Everyone with type 1 diabetes and two thirds of those with type 2 will develop some degree of retinopathy - a problem with the circulatory system of the retina - within 20 years of diagnosis.
More than 720,000 people with diabetes have the problem, although only 5% are blind or visually impaired.
The survey of 1,000 people with diabetes found 21% were not screened in the last year and 25% had not had the checks carried out with a digital camera.
Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said the current situation was worrying.
"The Department of Health has already indicated retinopathy screening should be a priority and put resources into it so there is absolutely no excuse for a slow response on this issue.
"We have the targets, we have the guidelines on how screening should be undertaken and we have the funding.
The Diabetes UK report, to be launched in parliament on Wednesday, will call on the government and primary care trusts to ensure retinopathy screening programmes are introduced.
Health Minister Rosie Winterton said the government was working with the NHS to make sure the target is met.
"We are actively performance managing all strategic health authorities to ensure that this target is delivered."
Launching the education programme, she added: "Supporting patients to improve things like their blood glucose control, diet, exercise and psychological wellbeing through education is a crucial part of any good diabetes service."
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml