Historical publications
Highlights of Government Support for Diabetes 1999 - Management of Specific Complications: Visual Impairment Prevention
This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.
The report aims to inform those in service planning and provider roles of the types of activities being funded by Commonwealth and State/Territory governments.
>> Forward
>> Introduction
>> What is diabetes?
>> National focus
>> Management of specific complications
>> Groups with special needs
>> The way forward
>> Contacts
Management of Specific Complications
Visual Impairment Prevention
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
- End Stage Renal Disease Prevention
- Foot Disease Management
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
- Visual Impairment Prevention
Diabetic retinopathy, which is caused by damage to the small blood vessels at the back of the eye, is the commonest cause of visual loss in adult Australians under the age of 60.
Other complications - glaucoma, cataract and corneal disease - can also lead to loss of vision.
Between one-fifth and one-third of people with diabetes have retinopathy (one in 10 has vision-threatening retinopathy).
Diabetic retinopathy is more prevalent in remote communities - almost one-third of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory have retinopathy, half of which is vision threatening.
Blood glucose control can prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Early detection and subsequent treatment can effectively prevent early retinopathy from progressing to visual impairment.
Eye examinations by trained personnel must be conducted regularly as diabetic retinopathy is symptomless in its early and most treatable stages.
The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia guidelines recommend that people with diabetes who have no evidence of retinopathy should have their eyes examined every two years for retinopathy. However, people with evidence of diabetic retinopathy should have their eyes examined at least annually.
Highlights of Government Action
Commonwealth Action
Indigenous Eye Health Program:
Aboriginal health workers will be being trained on a regional basis in the use of retinal cameras for diabetic retinopathy screening as part of the Commonwealth-funded Indigenous Eye Health Program.Contact: OATSIH. Ph (02) 6289 5339.
Preventing blindness and vision impairment
NHMRC clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetic retinopathy have been developed and distributed. Modified versions of the guidelines for consumers, general practitioners, optometrists, nurses and other health practitioners have also been developed and distributed.The Australian Diabetes Society Retinopathy Committee and State and Territory governments are being funded to build on the NHMRC guidelines and provide activities that have the potential to produce sustainable, long-term benefits for people with or at risk of diabetic retinopathy by improving testing, education and appropriate referral and treatment.
The hospital's diabetes centre provides a weekly outpatient GDM clinic with specialist diabetes educators and dieticians. Regular monitoring and medication management is provided as well as referral to an endocrinologist if required, counselling and post-natal follow-up.
Contact: Shirley Cornelius. Ph (03) 6332 7815
