Diabetic eye screening is crucial, as people with the illness are at risk of damage from diabetic retinopathy. Often brought on by high blood sugar levels, it can be incredibly damaging to the back of the eye, potentially resulting in the loss of sight.
During the visit, Siobhan Ireland, a MIND volunteer, shared with the team her difficulties with her mental health and the impact it has had on her type 2 diabetes. Due to a number of factors, Siobhan had trouble managing her condition which lead to having to use insulin to control her blood glucose levels.
MIND, an independent local charity offering a wide range of services supporting individuals recovering from mental ill health, referred Siobhan to a diabetes nurse whose guidance and support enabled the Doncaster resident to take back control of her diabetes. With the support and advice from charity, the 28 year old is now happy, healthy and anticipating the birth of her first child.
Speaking about this, Ingrid Thomasson, Diabetic Eye Screening Joint Programme Manager at DBTH, said: ‘’Siobhan’s account highlights the importance of managing diabetes properly. It is crucial that people are equipped with sufficient knowledge about the condition, as the complication can have severe repercussions if not closely monitored and treated promptly.
‘’It is on account of this particular risk that everyone with diabetes, aged 12 or over, receives an annual invitation for an eye screening. These appointments are absolutely vital for detecting the condition before it is too late, especially since there are no clearly visible signs or symptoms to speak of’’.
Keen to repay the organisation for their exceptional support, Siobhan is now a volunteer. Speaking about this role reversal, she said: ‘’I was so keen to give back to the service after everything they had done for me. We provide such a valuable service at MIND and it’s such an honour to now be a part of it. After all, it is thanks to them that I am now in the position to look after myself. I have regular visits to see the midwife and my bloods are completely under control, which is fantastic, especially when compared to how things were previously.’’
If you have diabetes there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of sight loss. As well as attending your annual screening appointments, make sure you exercise regularly, eat well and control your blood sugar levels and avoid smoking.
If you think you have missed your screening appointment you can call the team on Tel: 01302 642596 to arrange another one.