What lifestyle modifications should I advise my patients with diabetes to help prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy?

To help prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy, patients with diabetes should be advised on several key lifestyle modifications. Good long-term management of their diabetes is crucial, as it offers long-term benefits for their vision ¹. Patients should be informed that lowering their HbA1c and blood pressure results can reduce the risk of their eye condition progressing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema ¹.

Specific lifestyle advice includes:

• Blood Pressure Management: Managing blood pressure can reduce the progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy ¹. Optimal blood pressure control reduces the risk of microvascular complications of diabetes ²,³.
• Dietary Advice: Offer dietary advice ²,³.
• Exercise and Physical Activity: Provide information on regular exercise and physical activity, and advise minimizing time spent being sedentary ²,³. Regular exercise can help lower blood glucose levels, improve cardiovascular risk, and reduce excess weight when combined with a healthy diet ²,³.
• Weight Loss: Advise on weight loss as appropriate ²,³.
• Smoking Cessation: Advise on smoking cessation due to its impact on diabetes and its complications ²,³. Young people who are non-smokers should be advised never to start ²,³.
• Alcohol Consumption: Provide information on recommended alcohol limits and the potential impact of alcohol on diabetes and its treatment ²,³.