This Diabetes Awareness Week, we’re spotlighting the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in improving the severe diabetic eye disease patient pathway. A new study, which presented initial findings at ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) conference, found that severe diabetic retinopathy is associated with problems of the left side of the heart.
MRI scans have the potential to offer early and accurate detection of diabetes-related complications in vital organs within the torso. Using MRI, the study found of the 74 diabetic retinopathy patients, 56% had abnormalities suggestive of heart failure.
This study paves the way for more research into the diagnosis of complications in the whole body, not just the eyes. While MRI is costly, it could prove cost-effective compared to other high-priced therapies and expensive treatment of complications. According to research by the York Health Economics Consortium, diabetes currently costs the NHS £10.7bn a year, around 6% of the UK health budget (Diabetes UK).
Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, occurs when high blood sugar (glucose) levels cause damage to the retina. This can lead to vision loss in serious cases if left untreated. People with diabetes aged 12 and over should have diabetic retinopathy screening each year to detect any issues early (find out more).
Find out more about this ongoing UKIDS study (UK Imaging Diabetes Study Seeing Diabetes Clearly study) via ‘moorfields.ukids@nhs.net’.