Vision problems in diabetics with high cholesterol

Treatment of high cholesterol levels in patients with type 1 diabetes could also protect their vision and cardiovascular health. Researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard, USA found that higher serum lipids are associated with increased risk of macular oedema. Macular oedema is a condition where fluid accumulates in the central part of the retina in the eye. Macular oedema is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetics. While high blood sugar has been tied to the development and progression of disease of the retina, the relationship between blood glucose control and clinically significant macular oedema is not as clear. The investigators analysed 1,441 patients with type 1 diabetes for an average of 6.5 years. The cholesterol levels of study participants were checked annually. Researchers found that people who have high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, are two times more likely to develop a visual problem called macular oedema as compared to those who with low levels of LDL. People who had high ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol were 4 times more likely to develop the eye disorder. However considering the blood sugar levels of patients, the relationship between cholesterol levels and clinically significant macular oedema was weaker, but the association remained significant. The results indicate that high cholesterol, especially the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, are risk factors for macular oedema. The findings suggest that aggressive treatment to lower high cholesterol in diabetic patients is needed.

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