Diabetic Retinopathy (Diabetic eye disease)

Diabetes Exercise In groups discuss: What is diabetes? What’s the difference between type1 and type 2? Who gets diabetes? What can someone with diabetes do to manage their condition? Exercise Notes for teacher: Teacher to have an open discussion with all the groups after the students have had an opportunity to put forward their ideas.

Diabetes Watch this video on diabetes Every five seconds a person is diagnosed with diabetes, and every 10 seconds someone dies of it. Watch this video on diabetes

Diabetes recap You now know that there are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are diseases that affect the way your body regulates blood sugar, or glucose. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. It feeds your body’s cells, but to enter your cells it needs a key: insulin is that key.

Diabetes People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin. Type 1 usually develops in childhood. Type 2 is usually but not always caused by an inadequate diet leading to such things as being overweight The end result is the same: high levels of glucose in your blood

Diabetes-related complications Diabetes affects blood vessels and nerves and therefore can affect any part of the body. Common body parts affected Include:

How can diabetes be managed? Blood glucose levels can be managed with insulin, healthy eating and physical activity

Exercise Design a health promotion Make a short film or create a presentation which promotes a lifestyle that could prevent someone getting diabetes causing blindness. Exercise

Diabetes and Eyes Eyes need a good blood supply to keep them healthy. In diabetes it is mainly damage to the blood vessels in the retina that can cause problems.

Diabetes and Eyes The blood vessels of the eye can become leaky, blocked, or too small to let through enough blood. Damaged blood vessels can cause other eye related problems such as cataracts

Diabetic Retinopathy Damage to the retina as a result of diabetes is called 'diabetic retinopathy'. Diabetes eye damage must be picked up early for it to be successfully stopped or treated. If left untreated, it leads to deterioration of vision and ultimately blindness.

The Foundation & DR The Fred Hollows Foundation raises money to help with Diabetic Retinopathy through: Screening for early detection Ongoing medical support Research Education Infrastructure (building and upgrading clinics) Watch this video about one of Fred Hollows’ patients with type 1 diabetes

Which Pacific Island is Clerence from? How old is she? Which type of diabetes does Clerence have? When did she develop diabetes? Who else in her family had diabetes? How has the diabetes impacted her health? Name one of her health conditions? What type of food can be out of reach for those living in poverty? How does The Fred Hollows Foundation help people with DR like Clerence? Answers for teacher: Vanuatu 22 years old Type 1 As a baby Her father Vision impairment – cataracts/both feet amputated/chronic infections Healthy and nutritious Building and upgrading clinics/early detection and intervention/education on managing diabetes

Patient story In groups discuss this question and then create a poster: How different would the outcome for Clerence be if she was born in a developed country like New Zealand? Create a poster to show the comparison of her life in Vanuatu verses her life if she lived in NZ. Notes for teacher: Clerence did not develop diabetes through her choice, it was a condition she developed as a baby. If Clerence lived in a developed country and was able to afford healthy food she could have effectively maintained her blood sugar levels. She would have been able to access healthcare at an early age and be given preventative medicine, Clerence might not have developed DR which has caused Cataracts. Teacher can discuss with students how a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet low in sugars, and adequate exercise can prevent developing Type 2 diabetes.