Several factors influence whether you develop retinopathy. These include your blood glucose control, your blood pressure levels, how long you have had diabetes, and your genes (some people, naturally, are more likely to develop this condition).
The longer you’ve had diabetes, the more likely you are to have retinopathy. Almost everyone with Type 1 diabetes will eventually have background retinopathy. And most people with Type 2 diabetes will also develop it. But the retinopathy that can destroy vision (proliferative retinopathy) is far less common.
People who keep their blood glucose levels closer to normal are less likely to have retinopathy, or if they do, it’s likely to be the less sight-threatening background retinopathy.
Who’s at risk of retinopathy?
