DIABETES in Bahrain and the rest of the Gulf is reaching worrying levels among adolescents and young adults, a top official warned yesterday. Manama-based Alreaya Medical Complex consultant ophthalmic and vitreoretinal surgeon Mohammed Shaker Alomran said the numbers worldwide were expected to double in the next 40 years.

The consultant surgeon was speaking as countries around the world marked the annual World Diabetic Day.

"This is just another occasion to remind the people, particularly diabetics, that they should routinely go in for a dilated eye exam to help prevent vision loss," Dr Alomran told the GDN.

"We as specialists, need to create awareness so that people are encouraged to take the test.

"As ophthalmologists, we are also concerned that the increase in Type 2 diabetes cases at younger ages could mean a younger generation suffering from a vision-threatening disease in the prime of their lives," the consultant surgeon stressed.

Dr Alomran said one of the major health issues today is the explosion in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes, which has affected more than 250 million people worldwide.

"The impact of the pandemic will be particularly felt in the Middle East, Asia and South America by 2025, as the majority of new cases will occur in these regions."

Dr Alomran also stressed that there had to be closer co-ordination between the private and public sectors to make awareness campaigns a success.

"The situation is compounded by the fact that it is not only genetic predisposition that is the culprit, but also the people themselves who are unwilling or unable to modify their lifestyles," Dr Alomran added.

World Diabetes Day was created by International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organisation in 1991.

"Diabetes affects the eyes and causes various complications such as diabetic retinopathy, vein blockage, optic nerve inflammation, cataract and glaucoma," said Dr Alomran.

"Diabetic retinopathy is the most common complication and leading cause of blindness in adult age group.

"It is due to the damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, corresponding to the film in the camera (called retina).

"These damaged vessels leak fluid in the retina or sometimes are blocked, causing decreased nourishment to the retinal tissues and leading to formation of new fragile vessels on the surface of the retina."

According to Dr Alomran, there are often no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

"We usually say don't wait for symptoms, be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year," he said.

"During late stages of the disease symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include seeing spots or floaters in the field of vision, blurred vision, having a dark or empty spot in the centre of the vision and difficulty seeing well at night," the consultant surgeon said.

Dr Alomran said early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best way to prevent loss of vision. "If you have diabetes, see your eye doctor for an annual dilated eye exam, even if your vision seems fine."

Dr Alomran said the longer a person had diabetes, the greater the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

However, he said all studies showed with certain steps one can slow down the progression of the disease or prevent it. mandeep@gdn.com.bh