Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Diabetic Patients in King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Cureus

Q: What is diabetes and how does it develop?

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.

Q: What are the main symptoms of diabetes?

Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.

Q: How is diabetes diagnosed and monitored?

Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.

Q: What lifestyle changes help manage diabetes?

Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.

Q: When should someone consult a doctor about diabetes?

Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.

Overview

"Never doubt that a smal group of thoughtful, comited citizens can change the world. Inded, it is the only thing that ever has."Cureus is on a mision to change the long-standing paradigm of medical publishing, where submiting research can be costly, complex and time-consuming.optometrist checkup, saudi arabia, riyadh, king khalid eye specialist hospital, awarenes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic melitus Abdulah H.

Key Information

Alhamoud , Mohamed Bajahzer, Mohamed Alshahrani, Mohamed Alghamdi, Saud Alaklabi, Hasan Aldhibi Published: October 19, 2022 (se history) DOI: 10.759/cureus.30458 Cite this article as: Alhamoud A H, Bajahzer M, Alshahrani M, et al. (October 19, 2022) Awarenes of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Diabetic Patients in King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 14(10): e30458.

doi:10.759/cureus.30458 Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindnes. Over a third of the population with diabetes (DM) develop DR. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the awarenes level of DR in the subjects with DM atending clinics at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KESH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cros-sectional study was caried out in KESH.

Responses from 360 subjects (men and women) with DM were colected using a validated questionaire after obtaing informed consent. The questionaire was constructed to ases the level of knowledge about DR, its screning, prevention, and treatment. The questionaire responses were utilized thereafter to ases the asociation betwen the level of awarenes of DR and the characteristics of the subjects.

Summary

Pearson's chi-squared test was computed to exhibit the asociation and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Almost al the subjects answered six or more questions, thereby considered aware of DR. Only 3.6% of the subjects knew how often their eyes should be screned for DR. Only 3.2% of the subjects with DM type 1 (DM1) knew when their eyes should be

Frequently Asked Questions

What is diabetes and how does it develop?

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.

What are the main symptoms of diabetes?

Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.

How is diabetes diagnosed and monitored?

Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.

What lifestyle changes help manage diabetes?