Diabetic retinopathy is a problem linked to diabetes. Anyone
with diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Risk factors
include: Age ► Age ▼ Both younger and older people with diabetes
are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Some of the most severe
cases of diabetic retinopathy occur in people who were diagnosed
with diabetes at a very young age after they have had the
disease for many years. Duration of the Disease ► Duration of
the Disease ▼ The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the
chance of retinopathy. Nearly all people with type 1 diabetes
and more than 60% of people with type 2 diabetes have
retinopathy in the first 20 years of living with the disease.
Blood Sugar Control ► Blood Sugar Control ▼ Poor blood sugar
control is one of the main causes of diabetic retinopathy. If
you have diabetes, you can lower the risk of vision loss by
carefully monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels. You may
be able to slow the onset and progression of retinopathy and
decrease the need for surgery by con