Özmen, BGüçlü, FKafesçiler, SÖzmen, DHekimsoy, Z2024-07-182024-07-181301-2193http://akademikarsiv.cbu.edu.tr:4000/handle/123456789/7847Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem with long-term micro and macrovascular complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threating chronic complication of diabetes mellitus in adults. In this study, we determined the frequency of DR and the relationship between HbA1c levels, duration of diabetes and BMI with DR in type 2 diabetic patients. Six-hundred eighteen type 2 diabetic patients participated in this study. In the first examination, retinopathy was evaluated by ophthalmoscopy through dilated pupil by experienced ophthalmologist. Based on their optic fundi findings they were classified into three groups; without retinopathy, had non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In addition, the patients were classified in four groups according to their HbA1c levels; below 6.0 %, between 6.1 and 6.9%; between 7.0 and 9.9%, and; above 10.0%. According to the duration of diabetes the patients were divided into three groups. First group consisted of patients who were diabetic for less than five years, the second group consists of patients who had diabetes for a period 6-10 years and the third group, who were diabetic for more than 10 years. All patients were divided into four groups according BMI; lower 25 kg/m(2), between 25.1 and 29.9 kg/m(2), between 30 and 39.9 kg/m(2) and over 40 kg/m(2). In our study, the frequency of DR was 46.6% [28.8% have NPDR and 17.8% have PDR]. There was a stastically significant relationship between HbA1c levels and DR (both NPDR and PDR) (p<0.000). The frequency of retinopathy (both background and proliferative) was 4.8% in the group of diabetics with a mean HbA1c level <6%, 8.7 % in those between 6.1 and 6.9%, 62.8% in those between 7 and 9.9% and 82.2% in those exceeding a mean HbA1c level of 10%. According to our results, there was a significant relationship between duration of diabetes and DR (both nonproliferative and proliferative) (p<0.001). A similar relationship between PDR and BMI (p<.001), between NPDR and BMI (p<.01) was found. But there was no relationship between gender and DR (p=0.51). These results imply that duration of diabetes, HbA1c level and BMI are important risk factors for onset or progression of DR in type 2 DM. Therefore decrease in HbA1c values and BMI prevent or delay the onset/or progression of DR.EnglishGLYCEMIC CONTROLCOMPLICATIONSPREVALENCEArticle