Children with diabetes not undergoing proper eye exams

A retrospective, longitudinal group study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan showed almost 50% of patients aged 21 years and younger with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes did not receive adequate tests aimed to lessen the effects of blindness.{{quote-A:R-W:450-I:2-Q:“If it’s detected early there are ways we can better control the blood sugar and the blood pressure to prevent it from getting worse.”-WHO:Dr Joshua Stein, Study Co-author of Kellogg Eye Center}}Study co-author Dr Joshua Stein from the Kellogg Eye Center, said the results showed that one of the main reasons is that parents are unable to comply with the often multiple medical appointments required after a diagnosis.“If all that could be done at the same visit [with a pediatrician] that can help a lot in identifying patients who are most at risk of Diabetic Retinopathy complications,” Stein said, adding “If it’s detected early there are ways we can better control the blood sugar and the blood pressure to prevent it from getting worse.”The study found that among patients below 21-years-old, only 65% with Type 1 diabetes and 42% with Type 2 diabetes received the prescribed eye exams during the six years after they were first diagnosed with diabetes.The study involved patients registered in managed care networks throughout the US from 2001 to 2014. It covered 5,453 with Type 1 diabetes and 7,233 with Type 2 diabetes.