A new study from the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center has found the risk for diabetic retinopathy in youth may be higher than traditionally thought, leading researchers to suggest ophthalmic screening guidelines may need to be revised.
In a large, national study of more than 4,000 cases, researchers reportedly found more than in 5 youth with type 1 diabetes and 7 percent of those with type 2 diabetes had a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. They also found children as young as 6 with a diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Through their research, investigators determined children with uncontrolled blood sugar — measured by HbA2c levels — had a higher risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. For every one-point increase in HbA1c, they reportedly found the risk increased 20 percent for those with type 1 diabetes and by 30 percent for type 2 diabetes.
According to researchers, although current guidelines suggest ophthalmic screening begin three to five years after an initial diabetes diagnosis, their findings suggest the potential to miss an opportunity to detect diabetic retinopathy at an earlier stage to help prevent damage and preserve sight.
The study was recently published in the journal Ophthalmology.
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Source: University of Michigan