Dr Rebecca (Becky) Thomas

CVI is an imperfect system for many reasons. But we need to understand why there is a difference. Are more people offered certifications in Wales? Is the increase in diabetic retinopathy CVIs due to diabetes care, screening, treatment?

Questions that really need answering.

Higher risk for certification for visual impairment (CVI) in Wales compared to England due to any Cause (1.09 95%CI 1.07, 1010).

Since 2016 - increase in CVI's due to diabetic retinopathy in Wales from 47.1 to 55.5 per 100,000 people.

New paper from our group:

Trends in certifications of overall vision impairment and that due to diabetic retinopathy/maculopathy in England and Wales, 2009/2010 to 2019/2020: a retrospective database analysis

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/1...

Great way to start the year with a manuscript I’ve spent a full 12 months trying to get published being accepted! 🎉

Yes 1 year this has been doing the rounds with journals. Plus the previous years of analysis, writing & co-author reviews. Publications don’t happen over night

It’s a 🎂 & 🍾 kinda day!

Another trip around the Sun that not everyone is lucky enough to make.

Will spend the day with family celebrating, laughing & having fun.

The infographic reads: #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind 2.2 million people are living with sight loss in the UK 2023 (3.3%) 28,670 children and young people age 0-17 years live with sight impairment and severe sight impairment 427,000 people of working age live with sight loss 1.3 million people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. 123,000 people have severe diabetic retinopathy (R2,R3,M1) 20% experience difficulties managing diabetes due to vision loss Figures from RNIB and Barometer study

Did you know a complication of #Diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Left untreated this can lead to sight loss.

Diabetes is a condition with numbers: glucose, insulin, carbohydrate. But what if you can't see the numbers?
#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Pretty difficult sector to work in currently. List is only Russell group unis pretty much all are in similar if not worse positions

How to create accessible PowerPoint presentations | GOV.WALES Instructions for improving the accessibility of PowerPoint presentations.

Excellent guide to making accessible PowerPoint presentations here from the Welsh government, no less.

Covers arranging slides, image accessibility, colours and styles, slides for people with Dyslexia and alternative formats. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 👍

Definitely will do.

This was sooooo much fun to do. Loved joining @diabeteschat.bsky.social and what a line up this month to be part of!

Catch up on YouTube!
#DiabetesAwarenessMonth

FARSight-DM recruited its first participants today!

We’re looking at a new pathway for the management of diabetic maculopathy & pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the community instead of hospitals in Wales.

That’s Amazing hopefully there’s charities like you guys in all areas.

Are there any aids you find most useful? Or any you could recommend to help with diabetes management? I’m keen to learn more on this to advise diabetes teams what’s available

In the centre is a red speech bubble with the text Can you #SeeTheNeed so no one is #Leftbehind this is surrounding by graphics of an eyeball holding a magnifying glass, insulin pens a blood glucose meter, the world sight day 2024 logo, insulin pump, CGM, insulin vial and a funny blood drop holding a blood glucose meter.

People with sight loss need diabetes to be accessible so they can manage as independently as possible.

The challenge to diabetes companies whether you make insulin, pens, pumps, CGM or HCL is:

Can you #SeeTheNeed so that no one is #LeftBehind

The infographic has pictures or magnifying glasses both normal and electronic, a smart phone with large print and glasses with text reader attached. The text reads: There are low vision aids available for people living with sight loss. These range from: glass magnifiers electronic magnifiers mobile phones wearable text readers speech and magnification software for computers/laptops/TVs These aids can help but are expensive Images from RNIB and available in their shop #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

There are devices available that can help people with sight loss to see and read:

🔎Magnifiers
📚text readers
💬speech and magnification software

But these can be expensive 💷

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

The infographic is a circle in the centre with arrows coming off pointing at things which could help. Centre text asks: How can technologies for diabetes management be improved for people with sight loss? Enlarged font size High Contrast Auditory feedback Coloured needles/tubes Voice recognitions prefilled pump cartridges #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Some things that can help and be built into technology/apps:

High contrast allows more people with sight loss to see.

Coloured needles and tubes - why is everything black/white/clear?

Prefilled pump cartridges

flashing lights

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Infographic contains quotes from people with diabetes living with sight loss inside speech bubbles. They read: 'I have difficulties seeing my pump screen but thinking if I moan it will be taken away' 'I have to button count as I can't see the screen at all' 'Alarms are great but they all sound the same: hyper, hypo, low battery' 'Can’t see the computer screen when talking to DSN at hospital, I really want engage and understand but it upsets me reminds of how little I can see' 'Use an insulin pen to fill up my pods but rely on the clicking noise' 'Putting your insulin dose into a pump or pen is all about sight'

People with sight loss are worried if they speak up about their difficulties their diabetes technology will be removed.

They are excluded or become disengaged in clinic because they can't see what HCPs are trying to show them.

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Infographic reads: Is it OK to expect people with sight loss to manage diabetes this way? Prick a finger to drop blood on small strip and place into hole monitor for it speak the reading e reading Talking glucose meters - Prick a finger to drop blood CGM - Text to speak doesn’t solve everything: Did you know graphs can’t be read so time in range is unknown Insulin pens - Count the clicks to hear how much insulin they have dialled up even in noisy surroundings Insulin Pumps- can't see a very small screen, insert a cannula, or fill a resevior because they are white/clear Rely on third party apps for accessibility features that can and should be built into all apps. #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

In 2024 when innovation is everywhere why are people living with sight loss still counting clicks?

Alarms are great but do they all sound the same? Can you tell the difference between high/low glucose alarm?

Text to speak can't read TIR as it's a graph

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Infographic reads: #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind World Sight Day Survey answered by 22 people with diabetes living with sight loss and 23 healthcare professionals conducted at Swansea University 9% found it difficult to use a CGM 27% found it difficult to use an insulin pump. 96% of healthcare professionals had difficulty finding diabetes technology for people with sight loss All healthcare professionals agreed that those living with sight loss could improve diabetes management if technology was more accessible Survey approved by Swansea University Medical school ethics board as part of BSc projects

A survey @SwanseaMedicine found:

96% of HCPs had difficulty finding technology for people with sight loss

All HCPs thought diabetes self management would improve if technology was more accessible

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Infographic reads: #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind World Sight Day People with diabetes can have other eye conditions that cause sight loss not just diabetic retinopathy Conditions such as: Retinitis Pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, Stargardt Disease, Retinoblastoma, Best disease In addition people with diabetes are more at risk of developing more common causes of sight loss, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Retinal Vein or Artery Occlusions 3.28 million people have moderate to severe sight loss due to diabetic retinopathy but many more will live with sight loss due to these other eye conditions

Diabetic retinopathy is not the only eye condition that causes sight loss in people with diabetes

They are also at higher risk of cataracts, glaucoma, AMD

3.2 million people globally have moderate to severe sight loss due to diabetic retinopathy

#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

The infographic reads: #SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind 2.2 million people are living with sight loss in the UK 2023 (3.3%) 28,670 children and young people age 0-17 years live with sight impairment and severe sight impairment 427,000 people of working age live with sight loss 1.3 million people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. 123,000 people have severe diabetic retinopathy (R2,R3,M1) 20% experience difficulties managing diabetes due to vision loss Figures from RNIB and Barometer study

Did you know a complication of #Diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Left untreated this can lead to sight loss.

Diabetes is a condition with numbers: glucose, insulin, carbohydrate. But what if you can't see the numbers?
#SeeTheNeed #LeftBehind

Hey back 👋

Hey 👋

Just joined will take a little while to work things out.

Content you’ll see from me is diabetes related & eye health 👀

Also doggos 🐶 & general whinging 🙈

Just joined too