Diabetes Week: Raising Awareness of the Link to Sight Loss

During Diabetes Week from 8 – 14 June, 4Sight Vision Support (4SVS) will be raising awareness as to how diabetes may directly affect sight, and how regular eye health checks can also pick up early signs of the condition.

Diabetes Week is an annual UK-wide initiative devoted to raising awareness of diabetes and funding research into the condition. (4SVS) is a registered charity which provides advice and specialist information to those living with sight loss. It is keen to demonstrate the importance of managing the condition and any associated medication according to the advice of health professionals, along with the importance of regular eye health checks for all.

Richard Deadman is a Vision Support Advisor with 4SVS and knows very well about the link between diabetes and sight loss. Richard was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 4 and aged 27 woke up one morning completely blind. This was due to complications which caused both of his retinas to detach due to Diabetic Retinopathy caused by a high blood sugar level damaging the back of the eye. Doctors told Richard that this was due to mismanagement of the disease during his teenage years.

Thankfully after numerous operations, surgeons managed to save the sight in one eye but he remains totally blind in the other.

Richard is passionate about raising awareness: he comments “For people living with diabetes, especially youngsters, it is so important to make the right choices and listen to specialists to manage the condition correctly to reduce risks. And of course I advise everyone to attend regular sight checks to ensure good eye health.”

For more information about diabetes and sight loss call 01243 828555, email enquiries@4sight.org.uk . More information on Diabetes Week can be found here by visiting:  www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-week 

The image shows Richard with a 4SVS client during a demonstration of products and equipment to help with daily living.