A research study which aims to develop new ways of detecting and treating diabetic eye disease is taking place in Aberdeen.
The study, which is being carried out by researchers at the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen and funded by NHS Grampian Charity, will help to improve understanding of diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes is a serious condition where a person’s blood glucose level is too high, either because their body does not produce enough insulin or because the insulin produced is not effective. More than 360,000 people in Scotland are living with diabetes.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the small blood vessels in the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, become damaged.
Professor Julian Griffin, director of the Rowett Institute, said: “Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication which can lead to blindness in people with diabetes. Current research suggests that changes in the way the retina uses energy and processes nutrients may play an important role in the disease, and that is what we plan to explore.”
As part of the study, researchers will use a technique called lipidomics to examine and analyse the types of fats and oils found in blood samples given by people with and without the condition, helping to build a clearer understanding of the biological changes linked to diabetic eye disease.
Dr Frank Sanders, honorary research fellow at the Rowett Institute, said: “Diabetic retinopathy is very common and most people will have it to some degree within ten years of a diabetes diagnosis.
“Poor control of blood sugars negatively affects sight, but that’s only part of the risk. We are trying to understand why it differs between different people.”
Diabetic eye disease is treated by using lasers to get rid of damaged blood vessels – a treatment method which has been used since the 1980s. More serious cases may require surgery, which can be very intensive for patients.
“We want to avoid people getting to this stage, if we can,” said Julian. “By comparing samples from people with and without these conditions, we can look for biomarkers in the blood plasma which could identify people more susceptible to diabetic retinopathy.
“Earlier identification of those more likely to develop diabetic eye disease could lead to earlier intervention and treatment, and help save more people’s sight.”
The research team are collaborating with a sister-project in Wales, which is being run by Dr Sanders and supported by Fight for Sight. This will allow them to test samples from across both Scotland and Wales, and to compare results from an even broader pool of patients.
Lisa Duthie, NHS Grampian Charity Lead, said: “Diabetes is becoming an increasingly common condition in Scotland and it causes a huge impact, not just on those who are diagnosed, but also on their wider families.
“Many of us take our sight for granted, but for lots of people with diabetes the risk of losing their sight is very real.
“This research has real potential to identify those at risk of sight loss much earlier, which could lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for people with diabetes across the north-east and beyond.”