Type 1 Diabetes Update at Children With Diabetes Community
Of the estimated 415 million people living with diabetes worldwide, 10% have Type
1 Diabetes meaning they will remain insulin dependent until a cure is found. Globally,
we can observe an increasing trend of about 5% per year in newly diagnosed cases of T1D involving children as well as adults. T1D places vital organs at risk; additionally, it increases the
likelihood of contracting other autoimmune diseases. Life expectancy of individuals affected
with T1D can be shortened by as much as 12 years. Careful monitoring of diabetes (glucose,
blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI)), including early detection of retinal changes, is
key to maintaining a long and healthy life.
For over a decade, the week of July 4 has been set aside by a group called “Children
with Diabetes” (CWD) that meets in Orlando, Florida, USA (near Disney World) to educate
children about various aspects of diabetes. Siblings, parents, and grandparents of children with
T1D also participate in this educational, yet fun event. Earlier this month, a total of 2,300
individuals attended this event where, among many other things, families could have their
children’s eyes screened at no cost with the latest technology available. A group of 16 screeners
(Figure 1) with various medical backgrounds partook in this effort and for 5 days screened 216
individuals ranging in age from 4 years to 76 years (average age, 23 years).
pressure is responsible for 38% of non-vascular damage when not controlled),
BMI assessment, pupillary measurements, automated visual acuity measurement,
automated intraocular pressure monitoring, ocular coherence tomography (OCT),
ocular coherence tomography with angiographic views (OCTA),
and non-mydriatic high-resolution 21 megapixel color and Autofluorescence digital retinal imaging.
Diabetes Res Open J. 2016; 2(1): e1-e3. doi: 10.17140/DROJ-2-e004
