Screening for people with diabetes mellitus for poor blood glucose controlin an ophthalmological laser clinic

Purpose: The study was performed to test the effect of a structured interve ntion in diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control in an ophthalmologic al department. Patients and methods: All the patients attending the ophthal mological out-patient department with the need for laser therapy due to dia betic retinopathy were investigated from January to March 1998 (Type 1: n=2 0, Type 2: n=144). If an HbA(1c)-level higher than 9.0% was found the patie nt was informed within 1 week and a standardised letter was sent to the pri mary care physician and the local ophthalmologist. Over the first 3 months of 1999 the effect was evaluated. Results: HbA(1c) values higher than 9.0% were found in eight/20 of the patients (40%) with Type 1 diabetes and in 61 /144 of the patients (54%) with Type 2 diabetes. In 55% this new informatio n in the context of the need for laser therapy resulted in the acceptance o f a structured intervention by the patient. This led to an improvement of t he HbA(1c) in the people with Type 1 diabetes. Conclusion: Patients with po or blood glucose control can be identified in an ophthalmological departmen t. The need for laser therapy can be used to motivate the patients for a si gnificant improvement of the quality of blood glucose control. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.