Background retinopathy is curable by stricter control of your diabetic diet and eating habits. I found the best way to guarantee me no background retinopathy is to eat my main meal (if it's a roast or a cooked meal @ lunchtime 12.30-2pm). The only time this changes is if I'm having a light main meal (sandwich or salad) or if I'm going out for a meal with my son/daughter-in-law). Doing it this way makes my bgs settled and stable by bedtime and I only need to get up for a pee once and I sleep very well every night + NO MORE BACKGROUND RETINOPATHY. However I can't guarantee that it will work for everyone but IT JUST MIGHT anyway it's well worth a try.!!!

The leading cause of "non-accidental blindness" is Diabetic Retinopathy

(just some stats)

27% of Diabetics will develop some degree of Retinopathy during the course of the disease

It (retinopathy) does become more prevalent as we age/duration of disease (13% under age 25 - so Type 1's that have had it for a decade or more and upwards of 30% in Type 2's over 65)

Retinopathy doesn't always end in Blindness but many suffer from Glaucoma and/or Macular Degeneration, both the result of high blood sugar damage

And while Cataracts are not due to Retinopathy, again, blood sugar damage leaves the "average" Diabetic 5 Times more likely than Joe/Jane Sugareater to develop them

As we age regardless of diabetes or not, things start to fall apart so terms like "Age Related" get tacked on to some of the (conditions) as well - but the Beast gangs up with getting old to really mess with our eyes

Damage to the Veins in the Eyes starts to occur when sustained blood sugar levels are higher than 8.7 mmols/156 - so aside from the hour or so after each meal when our sugar Peak's, trying to maintain sugar levels "below that limit" between meals and overnight is the best way to protect against Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Cataracts

Diabetes Sucks - but losing your vision would really, really, really Suck

It's definitely a concern. Its one of the things that your eye doctor monitors. The better you control your bs the less effect it has on all your organs