Effects of Glycemic Control on Diabetic Eyes Diseases in Type 2 Diabetes
Prasit Leewattanapat MD1, Swangjit Suraamornkul MD1
Affiliation : 1 Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To evaluate the impact of glycemic control on diabetic eyes diseases. The impact of other clinical features on
diabetic eyes diseases, and the effect of glycemic control on other medical complications were also studied.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective comparative study included type 2 diabetic patients who were treated in
Endocrinology Unit, faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital between January 2005 and June 2016. The patients were divided
into two groups by their most current Hb1Ac levels as good glycemic control (HbA1c <7%) versus moderate to poor control
(HbA1c >7%). The effects of glycemic control and other clinical features on the development and progression of diabetic
eyes diseases which included diabetic retinopathy [DR] and cataracts were compared.
Results : Among 1,001 diabetic patients included in the study, 341 patients (34.1%) had good glycemic control and 660
(65.9%) had moderate and poor control. The median follow-up of 7.3 years (IQR 4.8 to 8.5 years). We found 140 patients
(14.0%) had development and progression of diabetic eyes diseases: 51 patients (15%) of the good glycemic control group
vs. 89 patients (13.5%) in moderate to poor glycemic control (HR 1.11; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.56; p = 0.570). Age >60 years was
the only significant risk factor for diabetic eyes diseases.
Conclusion : Good glycemic control or HbA1c <7% by the current practical guidelines did not have effects on diabetic eyes
diseases. Only age was a significant risk factor for diabetic eyes diseases.
Keywords : Diabetes eyes diseases, Diabetic retinopathy, Cataracts
