Dr. John Kitchen | Diabetic Retinopathy in Pregnancy and Across the Lifespan

Vitamin & Me

Nearly everyone has been touched by diabetes – either directly or indirectly. More than 37 million people in the US have diabetes, with another 97 million in the prediabetes category. The global prevalence is more than 450 million. Over time, diabetes damages the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves and the eyes. Those with diabetes have a 2-3 fold increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Chronic damage to the blood vessels in the eye result in diabetic retinopathy complications.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common form of diabetic eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in adults. It’s caused when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina. Nearly 7.7 million Americans have diabetic retinopathy and that number is projected to increase to nearly 14.6 million by 2030. That’s only 8 years from now. The good news is type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and, with appropriate lifestyle changes, can be reversed in many.

Dr. John Kitchens is an award-winning, internationally-recognized vitreoretinal surgeon, host of the New Retina Radio podcast and featured on the Discovery Channel’s Mystery Diagnosis. And he’s joining us today to chat about the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

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American Academy of Ophthalmology

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