Diabetes and Sight Loss: Richard’s Story

Diabetes Week is an annual UK-wide initiative devoted to raising awareness of diabetes and funding research into the condition. Set up by British charity Diabetes UK, it runs from June 12 – 18 and we will be lending our full support. We provide advice and specialist information to blind and sight impaired residents throughout West Sussex, and we aim to raise awareness of how diabetes may directly affect sight, along with the importance of regular eye health checks. 

Richard Deadman recently joined us as a Client Engagement Officer and has first-hand experience of 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 on Diabetes Week please visit: www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-week .

Find out more:

To find out how 4Sight Vision Support can support you or someone you know living with sight loss, call our friendly team on: 01243 828 555 or email enquiries@4sight.org.uk