This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8504366.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Eye worries for young diabetics Eye worries for young diabetics
(about 5 hours later)
Surgeons in Wales are having to give sight-saving treatment to patients in their late teens and 20s struggling to control their diabetes.Surgeons in Wales are having to give sight-saving treatment to patients in their late teens and 20s struggling to control their diabetes.
Retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels in the eye, is normally more common in older diabetic patients.Retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels in the eye, is normally more common in older diabetic patients.
The numbers in Wales diagnosed with diabetes has nearly doubled in eight years to 160,000 following the start of a national screening programme.The numbers in Wales diagnosed with diabetes has nearly doubled in eight years to 160,000 following the start of a national screening programme.
Doctors are also worried patients are developing problems at a younger age.Doctors are also worried patients are developing problems at a younger age.
"We are seeing it in younger and younger patients," said consultant opthalmologist Roger McPherson, who carries out surgery at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales."We are seeing it in younger and younger patients," said consultant opthalmologist Roger McPherson, who carries out surgery at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales.
"We used to be operating much more on people in their 50s and 60s but I'm getting a steady stream of people in their 20s and even in their late teens.""We used to be operating much more on people in their 50s and 60s but I'm getting a steady stream of people in their 20s and even in their late teens."
Laura Mundell, diabetic since she was 15, describes complications with her sightLaura Mundell, diabetic since she was 15, describes complications with her sight
Its thought that poor management of the condition, ignoring advice on diet and lifestyle, are the main reasons for the rise. Often young people don't acknowledge the symptoms until the problems effect both eyes.Its thought that poor management of the condition, ignoring advice on diet and lifestyle, are the main reasons for the rise. Often young people don't acknowledge the symptoms until the problems effect both eyes.
Laura Mundell, 29, from Caerleon, Newport, needs surgery on both eyes, having developed retinopathy as a result of her diabetes.Laura Mundell, 29, from Caerleon, Newport, needs surgery on both eyes, having developed retinopathy as a result of her diabetes.
"I haemorrhaged quite badly in one eye and it was complete blackness - complete lack of vision," said Ms Mundell."I haemorrhaged quite badly in one eye and it was complete blackness - complete lack of vision," said Ms Mundell.
"Its horrendous - its the small things that you can't do any more like watching television, reading a magazine or even feeding my son and trying to find his mouth with a spoon - you can't do any of those things.""Its horrendous - its the small things that you can't do any more like watching television, reading a magazine or even feeding my son and trying to find his mouth with a spoon - you can't do any of those things."
The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales said they have also seen a worrying rise in children developing problems.The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales said they have also seen a worrying rise in children developing problems.
"We are seeing probably a doubling in the number of younger persons diagnosed with diabetes," said the service's director Rosemarie Keigwin-Harris."We are seeing probably a doubling in the number of younger persons diagnosed with diabetes," said the service's director Rosemarie Keigwin-Harris.
'Patients ignore''Patients ignore'
"We have just over 14,000 patients aged under 12 with diabetes." "We have just over 1,400 patients aged under 12 with diabetes."
While the vast majority of those have type one diabetes, there has also been a rise in children developing type two diabetes, more commonly seen in adults.While the vast majority of those have type one diabetes, there has also been a rise in children developing type two diabetes, more commonly seen in adults.
"Just over 200 of those children are type two, its very worrying" said Ms Keigwin-Harris."Just over 200 of those children are type two, its very worrying" said Ms Keigwin-Harris.
Early diagnosis and treatment is key to saving a patients' sight but often patients ignore early symptoms.Early diagnosis and treatment is key to saving a patients' sight but often patients ignore early symptoms.
Mr McPherson added: "We are not uncommonly treating people when vision in their second eye is going. The vision drops in one eye and they don't seem to worry about it too much."Mr McPherson added: "We are not uncommonly treating people when vision in their second eye is going. The vision drops in one eye and they don't seem to worry about it too much."
The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales offers clinics across the country to check for problems by taking digital images of the eye to assess for any damage.The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales offers clinics across the country to check for problems by taking digital images of the eye to assess for any damage.