Progression of Retinopathy in Insulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetic Patients
- Marianne Henricsson, MD, PHD1,
- Kerstin Berntorp, MD, PHD2,
- Per Fernlund, MD, PHD3 and
- Göran Sundkvist, MD, PHD2
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
- 2Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
- 3Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—To study the progression of retinopathy 3 years after initiation of insulin therapy.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In a prospective, observational case-control study, 42 type 2 diabetic patients were examined at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after change to insulin therapy. Retinopathy was graded based on fundus photographs using the Wisconsin scale; HbA1c and IGF-1 were measured.
RESULTS—During the observation period of 3 years, 26 patients progressed in the retinopathy scale; 11 patients progressed at least three levels. After 3 years of insulin therapy, HbA1c and IGF-1 were significantly lower than at baseline. Progression of retinopathy greater than or equal to three levels was related to high IGF-1 levels.
CONCLUSIONS—A relationship was found between high IGF-1 levels at 3 years and progression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
Footnotes
-
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marianne Henricsson, Department of Ophthalmology, S-25187 Helsingborg, Sweden. E-mail: m.henricsson{at}telia.com.
Received for publication 13 June 2001 and accepted in revised form 16 October 2001.
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
