A new campaign has been launched to encourage people with diabetes in the Western Health and Social Services Board area not to miss vital eye test appointments which could prevent them from going blind.
In the last nine months over 40 per cent of those invited for such eye tests from the Western area d
id not attend.
Diabetes UK Northern Ireland and the Department of Health's diabetic retinopathy screening programme are urging people to attend their annual screening appointment. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the UK among those of working age. A full screening programme has been active in Northern Ireland since April 2008 and it is estimated to stop 50 people a year from losing their sight.
The service works by identifying early signs of retinopathy and preventing progression of the disease by way of laser therapy treatment.
Florence Brown, national care advisor for Diabetes UK Northern Ireland said: "Diabetic retinopathy is an extremely serious complication of diabetes and it can have devastating consequences if not picked up early and treated. The screening programme is a vital tool and I would strongly urge people with diabetes not to be complacent with their health checks - just 15 minutes could make all the difference to your future."
Across Northern Ireland 75 bus shelters will carry posters with the message 'please don't turn a blind eye'. There will be 15 sites in Western Board area including two in Enniskillen; Gaol Square opposite Enniskillen College and Wellington Road at the Bus Station. There will also be four sites in Foyle and two in Omagh, where the message will be relayed to the public.
Eamonn Quinn, operations manager, diabetic retinopathy screening programme said: "The screening has been well received and we're delighted to have reached the DHSSPS initial target of 70per cent attendance. That said we are always keen to get as many people attending as possible as it can make a fundamental difference to someone's life. We want to get through to people that it is extremely important and that just 15 minutes could alter your life drastically. We hope by working with Diabetes UK and running advertisements we can ensure everyone attends and anyone with early signs of retinopathy is identified and treatment started before any real damage is done."
The most recent figures for Northern Ireland indicate that 60,800 people over the age of 17 are living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in Northern Ireland. (Figures from Quality and Outcomes Framework, QOF). It is estimated that a further 15,000 people have the condition but do not know it.
The Screening Service is offered annually to all people with diabetes, age 12 and over and consists of a digital retinopathy photograph.
In the Western Board area patients are invited to attend for screening at six fixed sites; Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Limavady and two sites in Derry.
The Programme also operates a 'mop up' clinic whereby those who missed their first appointment can go to a designated clinic for another appointment.Despite this additional provision being put in place, only 58per cent of secondary appointments are attended, he said.
Florence Brown said: "People with diabetes have to attend both the optician and the screening programme but it may be that people assume because they've had a photograph taken at the opticians this is enough. Unfortunately this is a completely different test so it is crucial that they attend both. An appointment letter for the Screening Service will be sent to everyone who should be attending and I would urge people to read it carefully and ensure they are attending both the optician and the retinopathy screening."
Diabetes is a long-term progressive condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas does not produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose enter you body's cells - or the insulin that is produced does not work properly, known as insulin resistance.
There are two types of the condition - Type 1 and Type 2 and, if not managed effectively, it can lead to long-term complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation. Diabetes kills more people in the UK than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, she warned.
Diabetes UK is the charity for people with diabetes, funding more than £7.5m in medical research every year and providing information and support to the 62,000 people living with diabetes in Northern Ireland. It is estimated a further 15,000 people have diabetes but are unaware of it.The symptoms include increased thirst, passing urine frequently, extreme tiredness, weight loss and blurred vision. Anyone experiencing symptoms who think they may have diabetes should visit their GP as soon as they can.
Visit www.diabetes.org.uk.
