EFFECT OF INSULIN THERAPY ON PROGRESSION OF RETINOPATHY IN NONINSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

In a six-month prospective study involving 60 noninsulin-dependent dia betics, we evaluated the effect of change to conventional insulin ther apy on the pre-existing retinopathy. Ten of 15 patients in group 1 (ba ckground or preproliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with insulin ) compared to one of 15 patients in group 2 (background or preprolifer ative diabetic retinopathy treated with hypoglycemic agents) had progr ession of retinopathy. Worsening of retinopathy was related significan tly only to the age of the patients (r = .752, P < .001). None of the 15 patients each in groups 3 and 4 (no retinopathy treated with insuli n injections [group 31 or oral hypoglycemic agents [group 4]) develope d retinopathy.