On World Diabetes Day, experts highlight growing threat of diabetic retinopathy

At the Chandigarh Press Club, on World Diabetes Day, ‘Chirag’ — a public health awareness initiative of Grewal Eye Institute, Medicity, New Chandigarh — highlighted the growing threat of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is a leading cause of preventable blindness among adults.

According to experts, diabetic retinopathy affects nearly one in three diabetics, while one in five faces the risk of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. They urged early detection and regular eye check-ups soon after a diabetes diagnosis to prevent irreversible vision loss.

“After 25 years of living with diabetes, almost every patient develops some form of retinopathy. The alarming rise in diabetes in India is linked to longer lifespans, sedentary routines, and poor diet,” said Dr SPS Grewal, CEO and managing director of GEI, in a press release.

As per the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 2024, over 589 million adults worldwide currently live with diabetes — a number expected to reach 853 million by 2050. India accounts for more than 101 million diabetics, among the highest globally.