About half of people with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a condition of damaged blood vessels in the eyes caused by diabetes. Each year as many as 25,000 lose their vision because of this condition.

Here are the risk factors:

• Age - Although people of all ages with diabetes are at risk, some of the most severe cases occur in people who were diagnosed with diabetes at a very young age and have had the disease for many years.
• Duration of diabetes - The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the chance of getting retinopathy.
• Glucose control - Poor glucose control is one of the main causes of retinopathy. You can slow the onset and progression of retinopathy and also lower your risk of blindness by carefully monitoring and controlling your blood glucose levels.
• Smoking - Quitting smoking can reduce the risk.
• Alcohol - Excessive drinking increases the risk of retinopathy.
• High blood pressure - People with diabetes and high blood pressure are at higher risk for eye disease.
• Pregnancy - The risk of retinopathy and its quick progression are higher among pregnant women with diabetes.

Next week we'll look at ways to avoid problems from retinopathy.

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