Diabetes will make 80 go blind in next five years

Almost 80 people in Cork could go blind within five years because of diabetes — but are completely unaware of the threat they face.

A study to be published today will state that the hidden crisis is occurring due to repeated delays in developing a national diabetes screening service, which has been a key HSE “priority” since 2009.

The research, to be discussed at the Academic University Departments of General Practice in Ireland conference in Dublin, is based on the medical conditions of 1,700 people with diabetes who were treated at 30 GP clinics in Cork and one in Kerry last year.