Mallam Haruna, a 60-year old man shuffled along half-dragged, half-assisted by his two sons into the eye clinic. “These children are too impatient”, he thought. He was hopeful the doctors will have a cure for his eye condition, as he is not sure how long his sons would be willing to escort him around daily. He first noticed a gradual deterioration of vision in both eyes about three months ago. But, in the last one month, he could barely move around unassisted.

Soon it was his turn to go in. The doctor asked some questions and examined him. He was further asked if he had diabetes. Mallam Haruna told the doctor he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 55 years. He was placed on tablets, but he did not take them regularly. He was then told he had mature cataract in his right eye and diabetic eye disease in the left. Diabetic retinopathy it was called. The doctor explained that diabetic eye disease could occur when diabetes is not properly managed. This could lead to blindness in people with diabetes he said.

Mallam Haruna wondered aloud why no one had ever told him that diabetes could affect the eye until he lost his vision. “There is some hope yet”, the doctor consoled him. He will require surgery for the cataract in his right eye and laser treatment for the diabetic eye disease in the left.

Diabetes affects the eye and can cause irreversible blindness

The poorer the control of the diabetes, the worse the eye disease

The longer the duration a person has diabetes, the greater the risk of eye disease

All people living with diabetes should have an eye check at diagnosis.

Thereafter, they should have yearly checks or as scheduled by the ophthalmologist.

Stay sighted with diabetes.

Dr Mary Ugalahi

Nov. 14 2019

#WDD #DiabetesAwareness #DiabetesAwarenessMonth #Diabetes